There’s Impunity In Nigeria, People Are Committing Serious Crimes And Getting Away – U.S

The Acting U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, David Young, has decried the spate of killings across the country, especially in north-central and north-western states.

Speaking during a fellowship with church leaders in Jos, Plateau state, the diplomat said “there is a climate of impunity” in the country, where people commit serious crimes and get away with it.

Young, who is the deputy chief of mission and charge de affaires, US embassy in Nigeria, further urged the Nigerian government to “strengthen its laws to deal with killers”.

He said the government and citizens of the United States consoles with families of victims of the killings in Nigeria and remain committed to the sustenance of peace and unity in the country.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free and fair elections in 2019, devoid of any bloodshed.

“On behalf of the United States government and American people, I want to express again our condolences on the tragic loss of lives across Plateau, north-central and north-west states,” Young said.

“Quite a lot of people have died; it has been very terrible tragedies. We want to affirm the sanctity of human lives and anytime a person dies, it is a tragic loss, be that person a Christian, Muslim, Berom, farmer or herder.

“The Nigerian government should strengthen its laws to deal with killers; I think it is clear, we know and government knows that as well.

“A lot of people are doing good things and working hard. But it needs to be even more because it is clear that there is a climate of impunity. When people are committing serious crimes, they get away with it, without being brought to justice.

“We want partners in ways to ensure that the kind of violence we have seen over the past months don’t flare up in any election.”