Examining the Extent of the Application of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in Nigeria

Abstract

The right of persons to be protected from enforced disappearance is an offshoot of the fundamental right to personal liberty. The United Nations International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPAPED) came into force on 23 December 2010. Nigeria proclaims her commitment to its spirit and has ratified the Convention but is yet to domesticate the same. This article examines the extent of the application of the Convention in Nigeria. It argues that state practices are far from complying with the letters and spirit of the Convention as various acts of enforced disappearance of persons occur in the country.  In this context, while pointing out concrete instances of state complicity in enforced disappearances, the paper highlights some of the recorded incidents of forced disappearances in the country committed by both state agents and non-state actors.  It identifies the challenges militating against the effective implementation of the Convention and concludes by offering suggestions on how its application can be made more effective in Nigeria.