Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a statement issued on Thursday, has urged U.S. President George Bush to use a scheduled visit by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to "raise concerns" about last week's civilian massacre by soldiers in central region Benue State. Although Obasanjo's visit in Washington will focus on anti-terrorism efforts, HRW wants Bush to condemn the killings in which more than 200 people died. "The anti-terrorism agenda must not prevent President Bush from condemning human rights violations by Nigerian security forces", the statement said.
Last week Nigerian soldiers killed ethnic Tiv people in several communities in Benue State and destroyed homes and property in retaliation for the killing of 19 soldiers by a local Tiv militia. The 19 had been sent on a peacekeeping mission to the area to fend off hostilities fighting between Tivs and their neighbours, the Jukuns.
HRW also called on the U.S. to press Obasanjo "to investigate the events and bring those responsible to justice".
HRW's full statement
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