By Kei Emmanuel Duku
A United Nations Human Rights Commission report released on Friday revealed that seven individuals died in custody at Angui Military Base in Warrap State, following arrests and executions under the “Green Book” legislation.
The commission documented the deaths of individuals, who were detained in a container at the Angui Military Barracks, accused of violating the “Green Book.” They were however buried without the consent or participation of their families.
The report further identified the Warrap State Governor’s residence as an additional detention site where “Green Book” offenders were illegally held, with some subsequently executed.
The commission held the national government responsible for the widespread human rights violations in Warrap State, while also holding Warrap State authorities accountable for serious crimes recorded in 2024.
Despite a prior investigation committee, formed by the former Warrap State Governor to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detentions, and deaths, its report attributed the deaths to negligence. However, no individuals were held accountable, and illegal detentions continued from May 2024.
According to the report, Commission investigators found that detainees were held in unventilated containers lacking fresh air, a condition Warrap State authorities attributed to guard negligence.
In June 2024, a month after the seven deaths, unlawful arrests and detentions of civilians by the military persisted. On June 8, 2024, Lual Ngong Thor, a civilian, was removed from a detention center and executed in a nearby forest, the commission reported.
Commissioner Carloz Castresana Fernandez stated that the implementation of the “Green Book” in 2024 has fueled extrajudicial killings of suspected cattle raiders and perpetrators of intra-communal violence by firing squads.
He added that the “Green Book” has fostered a culture of lawlessness, implicating senior officials and the state government in severe human rights violations.
He called for the immediate cessation of the use of the unconstitutional legislation.
“The Government’s tacit endorsement of these killings further inflames tensions. We documented multiple instances where Green Book provisions were selectively applied to settle scores, undermining fragile community relations,” Fernández stated.
The Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Development Act, known as the “Green Book,” was passed by state legislators and enacted by former Governor Kuol Muor Muor in February 2024.
Since its implementation, executions of civilians by security forces have significantly increased.
Warrap authorities have not responded to the report by Press Time