Niger: Panel fumes over Military, community’s absence at inaugural sitting

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash between the military and civilians in four villages in the Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State has decried the absence of parties in the dispute at its inaugural meeting, in Minna.

Chairman of the Commission, Justice Mohammed Mohammed, who made the remark at the venue of the sitting, said he was disturbed that only a scanty number of people showed up at the opening of the commission’s sitting.

The principal characters in the dispute, the Army, Nigeria Air force and the Gwari community were conspicuously absent at the inaugural sitting, they were also not represented by counsels.

However, Justice Mohammed assured all parties that the commission would be ‘fair and just to everyone concerned’ because ‘we are here to do justice, the public expect us to do justice and we will do just that’.

He, however, said that the time at the disposal of the committee was limited so the commission would not tolerate ‘unnecessary adjournments’.

Secretary of the commission, Allhaji Musa Rogo, said four memoranda, one from the Army had been received by the commission.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello set up the Judicial commission of inquiry into the army civilian clash which claimed 24 lives among them 11 soldiers while several property were destroyed two weeks ago.

Also, on Wednesday, the second commission of inquiry into crisis at Pandogari, Lambatta, and Barkuta in Rafi  Bosso and Paikoro Local Government Areas of the state headed by Justice Abdullahi began sitting at the IBB university Lapai Guest House in Minna.