Post-election violence: Detainees deserve their rights

The Nigerian government has been advised to abide with international human rights standards in prosecuting detainees held over post-election violence in Northern Nigeria.

President Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Shehu Sani said the detainees should be treated according to the United Nations' - standard rule for the treatment of persons in custody.

Sani noted that the rights of the detainees are not only recognised under the UN human rights charter but also under the African peoples and human rights charter, and the Nigerian constitution

According to Sani, it is wrong to detain the suspects indefinitely without trial adding that they should either be released immediately or prosecuted according to the law.

The detainees are being held in various jails over their roles in post-election violence across states in Northern Nigeria.