Evidence of meeting #3 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was police.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Member, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
That has always worked in the past, and it can work in this situation. It would send a strong message to the government. Right now the Nigerian government feels it is not accountable to its citizens, to anybody, and that has to stop.
We Nigerians in the diaspora have families there. It's only my immediate family that is here, so every night we're hearing stories and we're afraid for their safety. When it comes to police brutality, there is no excuse. Police are supposed to protect the citizens. For them to turn on the citizens is just not acceptable.
Then in addition, please let me give just one more comment on what would be helpful.
The perpetrators need to be brought to justice. The government and the police department need to be held accountable to answer your questions as to what they are doing. They claim that they have disbanded the SARS unit. They claim they have put up another unit—the SWAT unit, they call it.
Member, Biafrans in Canada Community Association
The violence continues, so to me, these are Band-Aid solutions. They're perpetrators, from the governors to the chiefs of police. They need to be held accountable. They need to be brought to justice.
Those two measures are a start. If we could impose them at the international level, I think we would see an immediate difference in the lives of these people and in their safety.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
We're going to move now to the NDP and Ms. McPherson for the short time we have left. You have about four minutes maximum.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you very much.
I want to thank all of the witnesses who have come and have shared with us.
It's so hard to hear what's happening in your country. I have never been to Nigeria. I've spent a lot of time in Africa and have never made it to your country. I certainly hope to one day.
I think I should just follow up on a few of the questions my colleague from the Bloc has asked in terms of what we can do.
I hear that an observation mission would be appropriate or would be very desirable. Unfortunately, during the current context of COVID-19, that's very unlikely to be possible. I am looking at the things we could do to aid you.
One of my questions is, what have other countries offered? Could you give me a scan of what's been happening at the multilateral level—the history of the statements we have been seeing out of the United Nations and all of those multilateral bodies, as well as support coming from within as well as from outside the African communities?
If any of you could speak to that, it would be great.
Country Director, Amnesty International Nigeria
Let me speak on that.
In terms of an observation mission, we know that you have a consulate in Nigeria, and they have participated in some meetings that the government has set up for the diplomatic community. It might mean liaising with your consulate and with other friendly countries to do some sort of verification of what is happening on the ground. They have observed elections in our country, so perhaps they can also look at the justice mechanisms and raise very serious concerns about what is going on in the country.
Other countries—such as the U.K., for example—have issued very strongly worded statements saying that they are observing and watching. However, the fear is that harm would have already been committed if there's no measure for the government to show that it's doing good by its people.
I guess that is where the missing block is. If this were effective, DJ Switch should not be looking for a way out. In fact, she would be under some witness protection program and the government would be seeking some justice.
The pressure needs to be that we're seeing what is happening—a breakdown of law and order—and if justice does not happen, it might end up leading to some serious complaints before the Security Council at the United Nations, or even through some of the special mechanisms, to begin to act on the question of what is going on in the country.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Can you tell me whether there has been any move from neighbouring countries to support emergency refugees or offer protection to allow people to travel outside of Nigeria for their own protection at this time? I'm quite worried about all of you and your safety, and obviously we've heard from the witnesses that their families in Nigeria are at great risk.
Has there been that opportunity? Would some sort of immigration or emergency refugee support be an option for you?
DJ Switch, As an Individual
If I may come in here, from my own little experience getting myself out of Nigeria and also from encountering some military personnel of another country, I can tell you that when they saw my identification, the first thing they did was turn me back.
Now, this is not to discredit that nation. If you notice, I didn't mention the name. On purpose I didn't do that. It was because they didn't even want the trouble.
DJ Switch, As an Individual
When I started, at the beginning of my own testimony, I said that Nigeria is a great nation. It's pretty much the heart of Africa. If we can get our acts together, I believe strongly that Africa will begin to get itself together.
A lot of countries benefit from Nigeria, and that's a fact, but it's just right at the top level. There are people who can't fly out of Nigeria right now, and that's why you literally have to walk out of Nigeria.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I want to say that with leaders like you, DJ Switch, and all of you here today, I have great hope for Nigeria. We will be watching this situation very closely and we will be continuing to study it afterwards.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Before we suspend, we would like to echo what Ms. McPherson just said. For your advocacy, your bravery and your courage, thank you so much. Thank you for informing our committee.
This is a British parliamentary system. We are going to suspend, members. When we come back, we will be coming back in camera to discuss committee business.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
