NHRC poised to check sexual, gender-based violence

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has promised to check the scourge of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and increase access of Nigerians to its (commission) services. Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, said this while speaking at a two-day public sitting of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) on SGBV in Lagos. The […]

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has promised to check the scourge of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and increase access of Nigerians to its (commission) services.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, said this while speaking at a two-day public sitting of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) on SGBV in Lagos.

The SIP was constituted as a result of the complaint received on Friday, April 26, 2019, where armed security personnel led by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) under the auspices of the FCT Joint Task Force raided night clubs and the streets of Abuja.

Victims of the raid made allegations of rape and sexual harassment, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

The NHRC boss said the sittings of the SIP which will take place in the six geo-political zones will enable all victims of all SGBV all over the federation to be heard.

“We therefore urge other victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence to forward their complaints to the panel,” he said.

He said the essence of the public sitting is to check the scourge of SGBV in Nigeria and increase access to the services of the commission to seek accountability where there is evidence to indicate that any officer or individual(s) had been involved in acts of SGBV.