The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the Federal Government to pay a sum of $70,000 as damages for opening fire on some residents during a protest in Bundu Ama Community in Rivers State in 2009.
In October 2009, armed security troop opened fire on protesters during eviction of settlers of waterfront settlement in Port Harcourt which leaved one person dead and 12 other injured.
The case was filed by ten residents of the Bundu Ama communities and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government.
The Africa Director of Amnesty International’s, Netsanet Belay, said, “This remarkable victory brings to a close a long battle for justice by members of the community of Bundu Ama, who were unlawfully killed and injured at the hands of Nigerian security forces.
He called on the Federal Government to implement the judgement and not treat it shabby like other cases.
