Kano State Commission of Inquiry on Political Violence and Cases of Missing Persons, has pledged fairness on issues brought before it.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, made the pledge at the inaugural sitting of the Commission in Kano State Northwest Nigeria.
She said the essence of the Commission is to find out the causes and factors that instigated political violence in the State from 2015 to 2023 adding that, the commission will do that fairly, diligently and without fear or ill will.
Justice Yusuf said, “The Commission is mandated to investigate the rampant cases of missing persons and make recommendations for enduring solutions to these two issues”.
She called on individuals, groups, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as well as victims and relatives of the political violence, and missing persons to submit memoranda or petitions to the Commission from today.
Justice Yusuf noted that such memoranda/petitions are to be submitted to the registry of the Commission which is situated in this court premises.
She assured the people of Kano state that, “the Commission is there to serve them, and that their petitions would be looked into and where necessary they would be called upon to give oral evidence”.
Among the terms of reference of the Commission are;
“To find out the root causes of the political and other forms of violence in Kano State.
To identify areas where violence associated with the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections occurred in Kano State.
To identify sponsors and perpetrators of political and other forms of violence during and in between elections in Kano State.
To identify all missing persons in the State and determine the circumstances as well as the immediate and remote causes of their disappearance.
To identify victims of all forms of violence including politically motivated, State-sponsored, etc associated with the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections and assess the damage/losses of lives and properties during the period.
To suggest ways of supporting the victims of all forms of violence in the State.
To facilitate and ensure that the sponsors and perpetrators of the 2015, 2019 and 2023 political and other forms of violence are brought to justice.
To recommend effective ways of preventing politically motivated and State-sponsored violence and any other forms of violence in the State and to advise on any other matter incidental to the assignment.”
Emmanuel Ukoh
