Investigations of mass killings in Nigeria

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Perpetrators of mass killings in Nigeria have largely gone unpunished over the past decade, according to legal experts and human rights groups. Following is a list of some investigations into inter-communal violence that has killed more than 13,000 people since 1999, according to Human Rights Watch. Commissions set up by Plateau State government:

Commissions set up by Plateau State government
	Objectives:	Recommendations:
1994 Justice J. Aribiton Fiberesima Commission - date of crisis 12 April1994	Establish causes of the riots in Jos • Identify causes, assess property damage • Identify culprits and recommend appropriate action • Recommend ways to avoid recurrent violence	Declared those from the Berom, Anaguta and Jarawa ethnic groups residents of Jos and gave Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups settler status. Prosecution of Hausa/Fulani community leaders accused of fomenting violence.

2001 Justice Niki Tobi Commission - date of crisis: 7 September 2001	• Investigate causes of the crisis • Identify perpetrators • Assess property damage and loss of life • Obtain relevant information • Recommend ways to avoid recurrent violence	Two-year suspension of Muslim umbrella group Jama’atu Nasril Islam and the Hausa youth development association Jasawa Youth Development Association, and the prosecution of Hausa community leaders with role in violence. Also recommended a ban on the use of loudspeakers in mosques and mandatory approval from state-run Jos Metropolitan Development Board for the construction of additional mosques.

2009 Bola Ajibola Commission - date of crisis: 28 November 2008	• Same as previous panel, but focusing on 2008 violence	Under deliberation

Federal investigations
2001 Justice Suleiman Galadima Commission - date of crisis: 7 September 2001	• Investigate the circumstances in which 22 detainees held on charges related to violence died in Jos prison	Not available

2009 Emmanuel Abisoye Panel - date of crisis: 28 November 2008	• Examine the impact of the 20-30 November 2008 Jos crisis on national security and governance • Examine the extent of the involvement of foreign nationals, if any, in the crisis • Examine role of light weapons, ammunition and explosives, and identify their sources	Not available

2010 Chief Solomon D. Lar and Yahaya Kwande Commission - date of crisis: 17 January 2010	• Examine recurrent violence in Plateau State • work out how various institutions and levels of government can interact to resolve crisis	Interim report submitted 25 March 2010

Sources: Nigerian NGO Right to Know; Jos lawyer Lawal Ishaq; Plateau State government

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