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, Hilary Ogbonna, revealed this on his dashboard presentation for June.
He said that as of June 30, the commission had 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 support,” he said.
He said it takes a lot of finance to resolve one conflict and thanked the 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 that in June, the commission completed 6,000 investigations and visited correctional centres and places of visitation 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 commission’s executive secretary, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), raised the alarm on 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.
Mr Ojukwu lamented that the wave of insecurity plaguing highways had also intensified. He said more than 50 were abducted along transit routes in Kogi and Benue.
”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 is marked by impunity, fear, and 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.
According to him, the commission received 327,154 complaints in June. He stated that this reflected another sharp increase in human rights violations.
” 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.
“This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change,” he added.
(NAN)
