BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it received 305,300 reports of alleged human rights violations in September across Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, who gave the figures on Tuesday during the September report of the Dashboard on Human Rights, said the astronomical increase in human rights violations cases across the country was worrisome.
Represented by Rabi Anwar, the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement of the Commission, Dr. Ojukwu said the major highlight was the tragic loss of lives due to road accidents, which severely undermine the enjoyment of human rights for many families.
The Executive Secretary said the Commission’s dashboard remains an essential resource for stakeholders, offering vital insights and data that highlight the need for collective response and action.
Ojukwu said “we must approach our work with compassion and resolve, ensuring that we are not only identifying issues but also actively seeking solutions for every individual in Nigeria to enjoy the full spectrum of their human rights, free from fear and oppression.”
He encouraged everyone to appreciate the importance of the platform in promoting accountability, transparency, and advocacy for human rights in the country, adding that “the ongoing human rights challenges affects countless individuals across Nigeria.”
According to Ojukwu, “On Nigeria’s Independence Day, we witnessed the #FearlessInOctober protests, reflecting the masses’ ongoing call for accountability and good governance, following the earlier #EndBadGovernance protests.”
He expressed concern about the excessive use of force and tear gas by the Nigeria Police Force on protesters in Abuja, saying such actions represented a serious violation of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
Speaking on road accidents, Ojukwu said “according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), approximately 1,471 individuals have been killed from road crashes in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
“It is crucial for the government and the Federal Road Safety Corps, to take immediate and sustainable measures to address this crisis and ensure the safety and welfare of all motorists in Nigeria” the ES said.
He thanked their partners at the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, supporters of the Tripartite Partnership Project.
He also thanked, the media for their commitment to the dashboard and other development partners and advocates for human rights.
Presenting, the dashboard report, Hilary Ogbonna, senior human rights adviser to the executive secretary, decried the increased number of violations.
Ogbonna said the North-West maintained the number one position with the highest complaints, saying “the issues of concern is the freedom of religion because in some states, restrictions were placed on those on minority religion.
He said “sexual and gender based violence is another disturbing issue, 70 cases of rape were received in September. It’s alarming because one rape is bad enough to hear.”
On the issue of violations of children’s rights Ogbonna said the rising number of cases made the commission to start looking at organising a stakeholders meeting to talk about it.
He also noted the issue of flooding experienced in Maiduguri as an emerging issue which the commission looked into and came up with suggestions sent to appropriate authorities.
Ogbonna, however, noted that NHRC had its own protective mechanisms which included, complaints investigation, detention centres monitoring and legal enforcement.
Ogbonna said in September the commission received 141 cases of killings and 113 of kidnappings.
