(SINL NIGERIA) The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu SAN has observed that Nigeria’s human rights challenges remain deeply intertwined with insecurity, weak accountability systems, and social inequalities.
Ojukwu drew inference from the findings of the NHRC September dashboard.
Speaking during the presentation of the monthly Human Rights situation dashboard for September, the NHRC boss stated that the commission received a total of Three Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Two (371,622) complaints on human rights violations from across its state offices.
According to Ojukwu, these complaints cut across violations such as denial of access to justice, unlawful arrest and detention, domestic and sexual violence, torture, and discrimination, among others.
His words: “As always, our offices across the country have worked diligently to investigate, mediate, and, where necessary, refer cases for further action”.
He explained that beyond individual complaints, “our Human Rights Observatory continues to provide a broader view of emerging patterns of abuse nationwide”.
“The September observatory reveals persistent and evolving threats to human rights across all six geopolitical zones”.
Commenting further, Ojukwu lamented that in the month of September, “we were confronted with the one of the highest numbers in sexual violence including the defilement of minors and rape of young persons. This has become a worrisome trend even seen in families and in close relationship”.
“Rape is grievous offence and a gross human rights violation. It debases the humanity of the victim and is a direct affront to the conscience of the society” he added.
Presenting graphic details of the dashboard, the Senior Human Rights Advisor, Hillary Ogbonna revealed that the September dashboard recorded an increase of 2.5 percent compared to August.
Specifically, he said across the geopolitical zones, the North Central led with 153,697 complaints, followed by the North West.
On sexual and gender based violence, he told the gathering that domestic violence recorded 3152 cases.
He added that 6813 investigations were carried out in September, saying the North Central recorded highest number of investigations and resolution.
“State with highest number of killings, Borno recorded 76, followed by Niger, Zamfara, Kwara and Plateau” Ogbonna said.
He however bemoaned that 54 deaths were recorded in the month under review by the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement agencies, adding that child abandonment recorded 607.
Earlier, Ogbonna said the Human Rights situation dashboard derives sources from three primary ways, namely -Complaints, Human Rights Observatory in the 36 states and Abuja and legal and policy analysis.
