NHRC received 305,300 alleged human rights violations in Sept

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received 305,300 alleged human rights violations in September across the country. According to figures released in the September dashbaord report on human rights violations, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, expressed concern over the spike in the number of cases. Ojukwu was represented at the […]

NHRC received 305,300 alleged human rights violations in Sept

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received 305,300 alleged human rights violations in September across the country.

According to figures released in the September dashbaord report on human rights violations, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, expressed concern over the spike in the number of cases.

Ojukwu was represented at the event by Hajia Rabi Anwar, the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement of the commission.

He said the ongoing human rights challenges affected countless individuals across Nigeria.

The commission’s dashboard, according to Ojukwu, remains an essential resource for stakeholders, offering vital insights and data that highlight the need for our collective response and action.

He expressed deep concern about the excessive use of force and teargas by the Nigeria Police Force on protesters in Abuja.

He noted that such actions represented a serious violation of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.

Presenting the dashboard report, Mr Hilary Ogbonna, senior human rights adviser to the executive secretary, decried the increased number of violations.

He said the North West maintained the number one position with the highest complaints.

On the violation 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.

In the month under review, Ogbonna said the commission received 141 cases of killings and 113 of kidnappings.

“The emerging issue that the commission is also looking at is road accidents, and injuries, these also effect enjoyment of human rights.

“The issue of flooding as experienced in Maiduguri is an emerging issue which the commission looked into and came up with suggestions sent to appropriate authorities.

“There are increased cases of mob attacks where people now take laws into their hands, there is also attacks on police stations,” he said.

Ogbonna, however, noted that NHRC had its own protective mechanisms which included, complaints investigation, detention centres monitoring and legal enforcement.

The dashboard is a monthly analysis and graphical presentation of the human rights situation in Nigeria while the observatory is for monitoring, reporting and analysing the human rights violations.

In January, a total of 1,147 complaints were recorded against 1,484 recorded in February.

The month of March recorded a total of 1,580 complaints; April recorded 19,470, while May recorded 55,218 and 106,604 complaints in June.

In July, the commission received 185,651 complaints, while it acknowledged 228,549 complaints in August respectively.