The National Human Rights Commission received 55,218 complaints of human rights violations in May, with 3,149 related to child rights violations and 18 cases of rape and defilement of minors.
According to The PUNCH, this was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the agency, Anthony Ojukwu.
He expressed concern over the surge in violations and urged law enforcement agents to respect citizens’ rights.
Ojukwu, who stated these while delivering his speech at the presentation of the May edition of the Monthly Human Rights Dashboard in Abuja, said the commission recorded 18 cases of rape and defilement of minors of which 12 were children below the age of ten in May alone.
He lamented the huge upsurge in human rights violations and complaints.
He said, “This month’s edition features 55,218 complaints received by the Commission with violations against state actors topping the chart. The violations recorded in May impacted an estimated 157,368 persons across the country based on our Victim Impact Analysis.”
Addressing law enforcement agents, he advised them against abusing the rights of citizens in the process of carrying out their duties stating that any abuse of power must be met with stiff opposition.
“This is a distressing indication that despite our efforts, there are still instances where those entrusted with upholding the law become violators of human rights. We must emphasize the importance of accountability and the reasonable use of force by law enforcement agencies.
“While it is essential to maintain law and order, it must be done in a manner that respects the dignity and rights of every individual. Any abuse of power or excessive force must be met with swift and impartial justice,” Ojukwu said.
He however expressed sadness that a high number of law enforcement agents were killed in May with the police and armed forces accounting for 4500.
He expressed disappointment at this occurrence and warned Nigerians to desist from it.
“This penchant for killing law enforcement agents, the commission condemns it and urges the culprit to desist from it. The month under review also witnesses significant and troublesome escalation in the activities of non-state armed groups across the country. Our Human Rights Observatory recorded 298 killings and 360 abductions largely attributed to terrorists and bandit groups.
“The northwest continues to be a region of concern for us in this regard. We continue to see the worrisome trends of killings of men of our armed forces and the Police. This for us constitutes a threat to security and the defence of human rights and we continue to call on all relevant authorities at the state and national levels to stem this tide.”
Ojukwu also expressed worry at what he termed a “troubling increase” in violations of economic, social, and cultural rights.
He explained that these rights are the bedrock of human dignity and well-being and shouldn’t be disregarded as it is been seen in many parts of the country.
He charged the government to take concrete steps to address the violations and ensure that all citizens enjoy their economic, social, and cultural rights without discrimination or impediment.
He called for the implementation of policies that promote equitable access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
Recall that the commission inaugurated the maiden edition of the human rights dashboard and observatory in January 2024.
The first edition which was for January was presented in February 2024.
According to the numbers, The month of January recorded 1,147 complaints while February recorded 1,484. The commission received 1580 complaints in March while April recorded 19,470, and May recorded 55,218.
