Nigeria Records 1,580 Human Rights Violations In March Alone, NHRC Reveals

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) revealed on Friday in Abuja that the country recorded 1,580 human rights violations in the six geopolitical zones in the March alone.

The rights violations included killings , kidnapping, domestic violence , abductions, children’s right among others.

Making this public at the National Human Rights Commission headquarters, its senior human rights advicer, Mr Hilary Ogbona said that North Central topped the list of the complaints of human rights violations recorded with 468 cases

At the presentation of the findings attended by the Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Commission and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Ogbona explained that the police, military, and Department of State Service DSS  grouped as State Actors recorded 94 rights violations cases .

The human rights adviser who explained that the killings of the military and police  personnel  in Delta State formed part of the report revealed that 542 cases of violation of children’s rights were also recorded during the period.

Besides, Ogbona explained that domestic violence which he said was becoming too rampant in some part of the country had 471 cases recorded.

He said that the non state actor and private actors have 32 and 36 respectively while 3 cases of violation of rights were recorded against disabled people.

According to him, other sectors including social economic and cultural rights accounted for 157 while referred cases was put at 24.

He said that killings and kidnapping  accounted for 499 while another 71 violations of rights to life were also recorded by the commission during the period.

Ogbonna said that the 1,580 human rights violations were the entire figures recorded in the 36 states offices of the commission and Abuja.

Expressing worry over the increasing cases of human rights violation, Ogbonna said that about 301 school children were abducted in kaduna state alone while 40 people were killed in Benue state.

He expressed dismay that rights to life was being violated in various ways and manner because four deaths were recorded in Nassarawa State during sharing of palliative.

He then called for restraint on both State and Private Actors adding that reprisal attacks contributed to the recorded rights violations.

Ogbona also appealed to police and military to always conduct their investigations in compliance with the rules of engagement and rule of laws as provided for in the national and international laws.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Commission Ojukwu, reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.

He promised to partner with other stakeholders including government in the bid to step up efforts to protect lives and properties and in ensuring downward size in the violations of human rights.

The NHRC monthly dashboard aimed at making human rights situation public is supported by United Nations Development Program, Office of the United Nations High Commission for human rights and others.