John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Although I am not a member of this committee, I am a member of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs and a member of the Council of Europe and the human rights committee. I thank the Chairman for allowing me to contribute to the meeting.

I welcome the ambassador and offer my condolences to the people of the Nigeria who are at the front line dealing with Boko Haram.

I support Senator Norris 100% in everything he said regarding the rights of gay people, lesbians and transgender people in Nigeria. What is happening is an affront to human rights and to democracy, which has been roundly criticised by very many people in the Council of Europe and human rights organisations throughout the world. I am a member of Amnesty International and it has carried out many studies in Nigeria. Amnesty International would say that even up to the present day it is dangerous to assert oneself as being gay, lesbian or transgender and that one runs the risk of severe punishment or even death. I find that unacceptable in any country.

I wanted to concentrate briefly on Boko Haram and we all know its set-up. We are not too sure if its members are even fundamental Islamists. We know they oppose secular authority and anything to do with the West. We believe that they now control about 15 local government areas in north eastern Nigeria. The information from Amnesty International, which has spoken to senior military sources in the Nigerian army, is that in regard to the attacks on both Baga and Monguno, commanders at the bases before September, October, November and December regularly informed military headquarters that attacks were imminent and it is a matter of fact that in villages near to Baga and Monguno they had come across groups of Boko Haram who were organising and preparing to attack. Their information was that they were going to attack Baga and Monguno. This is coming from military sources within the Nigerian army who say that in spite of repeated requests for help from senior military commanders in the capital, none was forthcoming. Amnesty International and human rights organisations have confirmed that this has happened. I am not saying this is the case but there is an opinion that there may be elements within the Nigerian army who are not doing their job in protecting the people of Nigeria and who might be complicit in dealing with Boko Haram. There are indicators from many organisations around the world that this might be the case. It is extraordinary, as some members said, that having had information for three months of imminent attacks on two major parts of Nigeria, nothing was done and no help was forthcoming.

As one of the members said, the multinational joint task force indicated that attacks were imminent.

It is now seven years since the UN special envoy on torture made a statement to the UN to the effect that torture had become an intrinsic part of police activity in Nigeria. In September 2014 Amnesty International said the severity of torture inflicted on Nigerian women, men and children by the authorities was shocking to even the most hardened human rights observer. It is believed that there are now 5,000 people who have been in detention in Nigeria since 2009 without trial. Amnesty International, which is a highly regarded organisation around the world and has been in Nigeria, confirmed the figures. I have spoken to people from Nigeria who told me that is the case. I accept that the authorities must deal with Boko Haram and that it might not be possible to speak to its members or negotiate with them. There might have to be a military solution – as there will have to be with ISIS - but we hope that will not be the case. I am assured by Amnesty International that there are innocent people among the 5,000 prisoners and that it only gives succour to terrorists all over the world if they feel that people are being tortured in their name. The evidence all over the world has always been that such behaviour ignites people into thinking the government is against them so they will act against the government. It is possible that the infliction of torture on so many, whether members of Boko Haram or not, will not bode well for those dealing with the terrorist group.

I wish to return to what Senator Norris said. Two months ago I met people who had left Nigeria who were gay and lesbian and who had suffered terrible torture. I saw the injuries inflicted on them by the police force or individuals authorised or given the go-ahead by the Nigerian authorities. Boko Haram is an organisation that carries out terrible atrocities. It is incumbent on a government dealing with terrorists not to be involved in terrorism itself. To my mind, and according to Amnesty International, that is, unfortunately, the case in Nigeria. We must open our hearts and minds so that we do not allow that to happen. Members of the Irish Parliament have all spoken at times about what is happening in Nigeria and have great sympathy for the Nigerian Government in dealing with Boko Haram, but we must face up to the fact that in some senses the way the government is dealing with its own people is unacceptable and reprehensible.