Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate the recovery of 28 human skulls and other human remains during a police raid on suspected criminal camps in the forests of Umuaku-Isuochi and Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The human rights organisation said the discovery raised serious concerns about the fate of persons who may have been abducted or disappeared in the area and demanded that authorities establish the identities of the victims and determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Amnesty said the possibility that some of the remains belonged to kidnapping victims made a thorough and impartial investigation imperative, urging authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
The organisation noted that abducted persons were frequently subjected to torture and starvation, while some victims could face amputation, sexual violence or other forms of abuse, including being forced to witness or participate in atrocities.
It urged the authorities to ensure that families of persons who had disappeared, been abducted or remained missing were given the opportunity to provide information that could assist investigators in identifying victims and establishing what happened to them.
Amnesty also called for the preservation and forensic examination of the recovered remains and other evidence from the suspected camps to support efforts to establish the truth.
The organisation urged the Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to end the nationwide scourge of abductions, which it said was largely driven by lucrative ransom payments.
It stressed the need for urgent action to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, preserve evidence, identify those responsible and ensure justice and accountability for victims and their families.
