NHRC records slight drop in crime cases, received 406, 088 complaints

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it recorded slight drop in killings and kidnapping with a total of 406,088 complaints of human rights violations in the month of Oct.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN made this known on Monday at the presentation of its October dashboard and observatory reports.

He added that the coin addition, received more than160 monitored incidents of human rights violation.

“NHRC continues to reflect concerns around freedom from arbitrary detention, police misconduct, access to justice, sexual and gender-based violence and violation of fundamental civil liberties.

“Our Observatory has recorded incidents of communal violence, insurgent attacks and human rights abuses related to insecurity, which continue to affect communities disproportionately.

“In the month under review, we recorded a general drop in both killings and abductions compared to the previous month of September, a possible indication of the success of our Armed Forces and Security institutions,” he said.

He also spoke on the recent diplomatic events relating to the United States threats to intervene in
Nigeria’s internal affairs due to the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

He added that there was no doubt that conflicts and insurgency in Nigeria had led to the killings by religious extremists on Christian civilians in parts of Nigeria.

“It is important to highlight that citizen from other faiths have also been victims.

“As a commission, we hold the view that no life should be lost to conflict or criminalities.

“The responsibility of Government to protect lives and properties in line with section 14(2)
of the Constitution should be paramount,” he said.

He said that the threat from the United States should be seen as an opportunity to reform the approaches to terrorism and conflict in Nigeria.

He emphasised the need for civilian protection and accountability for perpetrators.

“We should as a nation gets the narrative correctly so that we can have the right diagnosis.

“Boko Haram and ISWAP have the ideology of Islamising Nigeria. I don’t think there is any argument about that.

” Boko Haram and ISWAP believe some Nigerian Muslims are not true Muslims and therefore should be killed like other Christians, hence the attack on mosques and churches.

“This has led to the killing of Christians and Muslims who do not agree with Boko Haram. So the common enemy here is Boko Haram who is surely killing Christians and Muslims in Nigeria
for religious reasons,” he said.

Ojukwu lamented the new trend in killing of farmers as well as in schools.

He appreciated their partners, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of Norway for their supports to the Tripartite Partnership Programme (TPP).

“We also recognise the hard work of our State and FCT offices in compiling the data that we presented today.

“Our gratitude also goes to the Media for amplifying our voices and to our esteemed partner,” he said.

Presenting the graphic reports of the dashboard and observatory, senior human rights adviser to the commission, Mr Hiliary Ogbonna lamented the new development in violations of rights.

“There are banishment, right to peaceful assemblies and protests, suicide and criminal act (mob actions).’’

Ogbonna said that Abuja topped the list of violations of child rights with 983 followed by Benue with 860 complaints.

He lamented more than 10 cases of defilement.

He said that 5,698 investigations were completed by the commission, 104 visitations to the police stations, correctional centres and places of detention were made.

He also said that 45 summons to the Nigerian police and 9 visitations to military formations were made.