By Edith Nwapi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said on Monday that it received 1. 4 million complaints on human rights violations in six months.
The senior human rights adviser to the commission, Mr Hilary Ogbonna revealed this on his dashboard presentation for the month of June.
He said that as at June 30, ending, the commission received 1,485,307 complaints of human rights violations.
“This is our highest in the history of this Commission, we are also happy that, as of June 30, we have resolved 20,000 cases. We can do more if we receive more supports.
“Resolving one human rights conflict alone would cost more than you can ever imagine” he said.
He said, it takes much finance to resolve one conflict and thanked government for its support, while appealing for more.
“We continue to strive to do our best to protect human rights. And as Oliver Twist, we ask for more as it will make us work harder for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
He said in the month of June that the commission completed 6,000 investigations, visited correctional centres and places of visitation for 78 times.
“During the period, we met those whose liberties have been deprived and we also issued 46 letters and summons to the Nigerian police,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu SAN, raised alarm on the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces.
“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces.
” In Kaduna and Niger states, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilising already fragile regions.
” Equally distressing was the massacre of more than 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.
“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence” he lamented.
Ojukwu lamented that the wave of insecurity plaguing our highways had also intensified.
“In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue states.
” These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation and personal dignity.
” These abductions inflict lasting trauma on victims and their families, while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads.
” This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, public trust in the safety of our roads.
” This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability” he said.
The commission according to him,In the month of June, received 327,154 complaints.
He added that this reflected another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice.
” To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions.
“To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues.
” To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues.
“This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change” he said. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)