ECOWAS, Nigeria Urged to Tackle Epidemic of Enforced Disappearances
A leading human rights expert has issued a stark warning that enforced disappearances have become a “rampant threat” across West Africa, demanding immediate and decisive action from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian government.
The call to action was made by Professor Chris Kwaja on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. He emphasized that a crime once synonymous with military dictatorships is now being perpetrated with alarming frequency under democratic regimes by both state and non-state actors.
Professor Kwaja, who teaches International Relations and Strategic Studies at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, and is a former member of the United Nations Working Group on Mercenaries, linked the surge in disappearances to the rise of conflicts and organized crime since the 1990s.
“Enforced disappearances violate a host of fundamental human rights,” Kwaja stated from Abuja. “These include the right to liberty and security, the right to life, and the right to a fair trial. It is a cruel act that robs families of the truth and an effective remedy.”
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Perpetrators include violent extremists, secessionist groups, bandits, militias, and in some cases, state security forces. The United Nations classifies enforced disappearance, when widespread or systematic, as a crime against humanity—a designation that carries no statute of limitations and grants families the right to seek reparations and truth.
To confront the crisis, Professor Kwaja presented a concrete five-point plan for national and regional bodies. He called for enforced disappearance to be explicitly classified as a specific crime under national laws and ECOWAS statutes. He insisted that perpetrators must be prosecuted and held accountable in accordance with the rule of law. Furthermore, he urged authorities to provide comprehensive mental health and psychosocial care for victims and their families. He also advocated for the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms to facilitate healing and prevent future occurrences. Finally, he emphasized the need for a national registry to document cases, which would serve as a critical resource for families seeking answers.
Professor Kwaja stressed that these measures are essential to address the profound humanitarian, security, and human rights implications tearing at the region’s social fabric. The ball is now in the court of regional leaders to turn this blueprint into action.
By PRNigeria
