Rights commission calls for human rights protection in the North East
National Human Rights Commission has called for the protection of human rights in the on-going counter-insurgency operations going on in the North-Eastern part of the country. Speaking over the weekend during activities of the commission to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day in Abuja, two-time Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah […]
National Human Rights Commission has called for the protection of human rights in the on-going counter-insurgency operations going on in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Speaking over the weekend during activities of the commission to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day in Abuja, two-time Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah noted that the commission has recorded several complains from Boko Haram victims in the North-Eastern States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the wake of military operations in the affected areas.
According to her, “Homes and properties of both public and private worth billions of naira have been destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people maimed or killed and millions of others forced to flee their homes to safety.
“There were accusations and counter accusations of grave human rights violations between the terrorists and law enforcement personnel in their counter insurgency operations particularly in the three states of the North East where the state of emergency was declared.
“The imperative to address the human rights concerns occasioned by this conflict called to action the mandate of the commission which is to promote, protect and enforce human rights in Nigeria.”
Ovrawah read out the text of the United Nations’ Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki moon’s message for the day stating that “at a time of multiplying conflicts, intensifying humanitarian needs and rising hate speech, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that recognition of ‘the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human rights family was paramount.