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ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of justice has ordered the State of Guinea to pay 269,000,000 Guinean Francs as compensation for emotional harm for the violation of the right to life and integrity to the Applicant whose son was fatally injured during a protest in Labe in Guinea.
The Court also ordered that the Respondent pays the Applicant 44.000, 000 as damages in the same currency.
Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Judge Rapporteur, delivered the judgment on Monday on behalf of the Panel which held that the Respondent had violated the fundamental right of the Applicant under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and other fundamental human rights treaties.
The Applicant, Mamadou Mouctar Balde, had filed a claim before the Court alleging the violation of his son Amadou Balde’s right to life. He averred that the son died from a fatal injury sustained during a riot at the University of Labe, where the Respondent’s agents were maintaining law and order. The Applicant asserted that the Respondent acknowledged the death of his son but failed to fulfill its obligations under international law. In view of these claims, Applicant sought for a declaration of violation under Article 4 of the ACHPR, along with monetary compensation and costs.
The Respondent acknowledged that the death of the Applicant’s son but denied responsibility, claiming its agents had a lawful mandate. It averred that an investigation was initiated and prosecution followed but was halted after a fire incident at the Court of First Instance in Labé, destroying case documents. The Respondent argued that it has made efforts to reconstruct the file since this incidence. It contended that it has not violated the Applicant’s human rights and requested that the Court declare the application inadmissible in form, and on the merit, dismiss the claim for lack of evidence.
It prayed for costs in cause.
The Court cited that the issue of a death was not contended rather the contention was whether a violation had occurred and the responsibility of the Respondent in this instance. The Court emphazed that states have a duty to safeguard the right to life during protests. Consequently, it concluded that Amadou Balde’s death in the Labe protest constitutes a violation under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights.
The Court also found that the Respondent’s claim of lack of documents to continue the trial after the fire incident unacceptable, as there is no evidence supporting this assertion. The Court held that, based on the available facts and evidence, the Respondent failed in its obligation under Article 1 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights. This is due to the fact that the act of the violation of the right to life is attributable to the Respondent.
The Court therefore made orders that the Respondent pays Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million Guinean Francs (269,000,000 GNF) as compensation for emotional harm and Forty- Four Million Guinean Francs (44,000,000 GNF) as damages to the Applicant.
The Panel also consisted of Hon. Justice Gbéri-bè Ouattara, presiding and Dupe Atoki (Member).
ECOWAS Court Orders Guinea to Pay Compensation for Violation of Citizen’s Right of Life and Integrity
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist infiltration into Kanama town, neutralising four insurgents during a swift response operation in Borno State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on April 22 when troops of 159 Battalion, deployed in Kanama, responded to sounds of gunfire within the town.
On arrival, the troops reportedly discovered that terrorists had infiltrated parts of the community.
The troops immediately made contact and engaged the attackers with disciplined fire, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Subsequent exploitation of the general area led to the neutralisation of four terrorists.
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained injuries during the encounter and has been evacuated for medical attention.
No military equipment was lost during the operation.
Items recovered from the terrorists include two torchlight mobile phones and the sum of ₦21,000.
Security sources said the general situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high.
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Shura Member Abu Jirir in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralised a prominent member of the ISWAP Shura Council during an operation in Yobe State.
Security sources said the development was confirmed at about 6:12 p.m. on April 22 following intelligence reports that the senior terrorist figure, identified as Abu Jarir, was eliminated by troops in the Babangida area.
According to the sources, the neutralisation is considered a significant blow to the terrorist leadership structure in the Lake Chad region.
The sources further disclosed that the overall ISWAP commander in the Lake Chad axis, identified as Ba Shuwa, reportedly dispatched a team to recover the body of the slain commander on the same day.
The search party was said to have been sighted moving on about 12 motorcycles around the Aljanna Jaule area.
Further details on the operation are expected as exploitation continues.
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Shura Member Abu Jirir in Yobe
Troops respond to attack in Bindi Community
By: Our Reporter
In a related development, troops deployed at Ganawuri also responded at about 11:30 a.m. the same day to a report of destruction of cabbage farms belonging to two residents, Mr. Haruna Badung and Mr. Elisha Musa, in Bindi community of Riyom LGA.
On arrival, the troops discovered that the Fulani herders responsible had fled the area with their cattle. Community leaders were subsequently invited by the troops to facilitate an amicable resolution and prevent escalation.
Similarly, in Mangu Local Government Area, troops of Sector 8 responded at about 12:30 p.m. to a report of injuries to a local resident, Mrs. Gift Zaphania, in a confrontation with a Fulani herder while fetching water at a stream in Maijankai village. The victim was found with injuries and was evacuated to a nearby clinic for medical attention.
The herder reportedly fled on sighting troops, abandoning 29 cattle, which were taken into custody pending further action.
Zagazola Makama’s series of reports has illustrated how cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, farm invasion by Fulani herders, and targeted attacks on pastoralists’ livelihoods by Berom militia in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom LGAs have continued to fuel tensions and violent confrontations.
Both Berom and Fulani criminal elements have carried out coordinated attacks, sometimes leading to loss of lives and destruction of property across the affected local government areas.
Recent security operations have also uncovered networks involved in cattle rustling and illicit livestock trade. On April 19, operatives in Nasarawa State intercepted suspected stolen cattle linked to Plateau, leading to the arrest of a suspect in Lafia. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to purchasing twelve cows from a paramount ruler in Plateau State (name withheld), but transported only eleven due to limited vehicle capacity.
Further investigations identified the livestock as part of a herd rustled in 2025 from Bokkos, pointing to the scale and persistence of the problem.
Other similar incidents include the recovery of 48 rustled cattle in Yelwa, Barkin Ladi LGA, on April 15, and 92 cattle in Bassa LGA on April 13 after security forces pursued fleeing Berom suspects.
Such recurring incidents remain a major trigger for retaliatory violence, complicating peace efforts and heightening insecurity in affected communities.pp
Efforts are ongoing by troops and other security agencies to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.
Troops respond to attack in Bindi Community
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
Troops Neutralise ISWAP Shura Member Abu Jirir in Yobe
Troops respond to attack in Bindi Community
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