Extrajudicial Killings by Nigerian Security Forces in the Southeast: A Human Rights Assessment

This study provides a human rights assessment of extrajudicial killings attributed to Nigerian security forces in the Southeast geopolitical zone, with particular attention to operations conducted in Imo and Anambra states between 2021 and 2024. Reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and local civil society organizations have documented numerous instances of alleged unlawful killings by the Nigerian Army and police during counter-insurgency operations targeting separatist groups. The research situates its analysis within the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nigeria is a signatory. A qualitative methodology is employed, drawing on documented testimonies from affected communities, court processes, reports from the National Human Rights Commission, and press freedom documentation. Findings indicate a consistent pattern of excessive force, failure to investigate killings, denial of justice to bereaved families, and intimidation of witnesses and journalists. The study argues that these practices constitute serious violations of the right to life under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution. Recommendations include the establishment of a special independent commission of inquiry, strengthened prosecutorial mechanisms for security force accountability, and engagement with UN human rights treaty bodies. Keywords: extrajudicial killings, security forces, Southeast Nigeria, right to life, accountability.