President Bola Tinubu has been called upon to deliver justice to the victims of the so-called phantom coups that occurred during the regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995 and 1997. These victims, many of whom are former military officers, have endured significant physical, mental, and emotional suffering over the years.
Tinubu acknowledged the sacrifices of these individuals, stating that they “bravely surrendered their futures so that our nation might have a better one.” However, despite this recognition, many of these victims are still awaiting justice and reparation for the injustices they suffered. Some have even succumbed to death while others continue to live with the trauma of their past experiences.
The victims are seeking the implementation of the recommendations made by the Oputa panel on human rights violations and abuses. They point out that the Council of State had approved compensation for the victims in 2009 and again in 2011, but this has yet to be fully realized. The victims describe their treatment under Abacha’s regime as “unjust, inhuman, satanic and callous” and insist that these violations cannot be ignored.
Their plea is for President Tinubu to speedily address their plight and grant them the long-awaited reprieve. They believe that justice delayed should not be justice denied, especially given the clear-cut facts and resolutions contained in the Oputa panel’s report.
