Nigeria

Nigeria: Call for advocacy to see through passage of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill

The first milestone has been achieved with the GBV Bill. On 30th June 2010, the GBV Bill entitled ‘Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill 2010’ went through its first reading at the House of Representatives. This is, therefore, a call from WLUML Nigerian networkers and allies to all stakeholders to lend their voices to the campaign by engaging in lobbying and advocacy activities geared towards sustaining the pressure on parliament to see through the passage of the bill in the present legislative dispensation.

BAOBAB's Stop Violent Punishment Against Women Radio Campaign

BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, as part of her activities under the 'Stop Killing and Stoning of Women' Campaign of the 'Women Redefining and Reclaiming Culture' programme of WLUML and IWE, recently held four live phone-in programmes on radio in four geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Nigeria: Ondo State government removes ruler of Akure Kingdom for beating up wife

After five years of controversial rule as the paramount ruler of Akure Kingdom , the Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju, Osupa III was yesterday deposed by the Ondo State government for beating up his estranged wife, Bolanle, in the street.

Nigeria: Yerima Quizzed Over Child Marriage & Granted Bail

Senator Sani Ahmed, commonly known as Yerima, was on Tuesday quizzed by the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) over his marriage to an Egyptian girl aged 13. The lawful age of marriage in both Nigeria and Egypt is 18. He faces a fine of N500,000 or five years in jail if convicted.

Nigeria: Facebook group against child marriages and paedophilia

On 17 April a Facebook group was created in response to the case of Nigerian Senator Yerima who married a 13-year old Egyptian girl: "Shameful cases of rape of children and babies are on the increase....added to this is the equally shameful practice of Child marriages in some parts of our country...we have to speak against this and protect our children....welcome to this group, let us hope that this small effort will make a big difference in the lives of our children..."

Nigeria: No man dares sit on this throne

In Kumbwada, a curse has assured that only women will reign, locals say. And so far, the current queen pronounces, it has worked out better this way. In Nigeria's conservative Islamic north, women are barred from ruling, except in the kingdom of Kumbwada. Here, an ancient curse keeps males off the throne, according to locals. Male pretenders who dare to try will be buried within a week.

Nigeria: Sharia Court orders immediate suspension of all debates on amputation

A Sharia Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered the immediate suspension of all debates on the amputation of Bello Buba Jangebe on online sites - Facebook and Twitter. In 2000, Jangebe made history as the first person in Nigeria to have an amputation carried out under Islamic law after being found guilty of stealing a cow. The judge had a few weeks ago issued a restraining order in favour of the applicants to prevent a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Civil Rights Congress (CRC) (defendants), from discussing Jangebe’s case in a forum opened by the group on Facebook and Twitter. Please see Related info below for background to Sharia Penal Codes in Nigeria.

Nigeria: Le gouvernement devrait enquêter sur le massacre perpétré dans la région de Jos

Le président par intérim du Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan devrait garantir l'ouverture dans les plus brefs délais d'une enquête exhaustive sur le massacre d'au moins 200 villageois chrétiens dans le centre du pays le 7 mars, ainsi que l'engagement de poursuites judiciaires contre toute personne responsable, a déclaré Human Rights Watch aujourd'hui. Le président par intérim devrait également s'assurer que les militaires et la police agiront promptement pour protéger les civils - quelle que soit leur ethnie - contre tout risque de nouvelles attaques ou de meurtres commis en représailles, notamment grâce à la mise en place de patrouilles régulières à travers toute cette région vulnérable.

Nigeria: Sectarian Killings Continue

Nigeria's acting president should make sure that the massacre of at least 200 Christian villagers in central Nigeria on March 7, 2010, is thoroughly and promptly investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said today. The acting president should also ensure that the military and the police act swiftly to protect civilians of all ethnicities at risk of further attacks or reprisal killings, including by conducting regular patrols throughout the vulnerable region, Human Rights Watch said.

Africa: 30 days of advocacy against Witch-hunts

29 March to 27 April 2010 (Global): The witchcraft epidemic in Africa is fueled by religious extremism. Practitioners of traditional African religions, traditional healers, witch-doctors and Christian missionaries and religious leaders incite witch-hunts on this continent. There are comparisons to be made between Africas current witch-craze, European Inquisitions and American witch-hunts. Perhaps the lessons to be learned in Africa are the same as those that needed to be learned by Europeans and Americans; there is no culture without human rights. All men and women, including Witches, have the right to live without being falsely accused, assaulted, persecuted or murdered.