….Says 106,604 cases recorded in June
…Calls out state governors to stem trend
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the increase in the spate of extrajudicial killings witnessed across the country calling on state governors of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capita Territory Administration to stem the tide
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), made the call on Monday in Abuja during the 6th edition of the Commission’s dashboard on the state of human rights in Nigeria.
Addressing the media and other stakeholders during the session, Ojukwu disclosed that a total of 106,604 cases of human rights abuses were recorded in June alone across the length and breadth of Nigeria.,
According to him there were 1,667 reports of abandoned children and the killing of 19 security personnel during this period.
He stated that the figure for human rights abuses in June was the highest recorded in the past six months.
Ojukwu described the increase as disturbing but not unexpected, given the economic situation in the country.
Ojukwu however said the Commission would increase collaboration with traditional rulers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intensify campaigns against human rights violations and expressed regret over the rise in extrajudicial killings.
According to the human rights lawyer, Ebonyi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) top the list during this period.
Dr. Ojukwu emphasized the Commission’s concern about reported cases of defilement of minors in June.
A breakdown of the reported 106,604 human rights abuses, highlighted by Barrister Hillary Ogbona, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the commission, shows the North Central region recorded the highest number with 29,462 cases, followed closely by the South South with 21,603.
The South West recorded 18,458 cases, the North West 15,101, the North East 12,907, and the South East the lowest with 9,164 reported cases of human rights violations.
Regarding extrajudicial killings, Ogbona expressed concern over incidents such as killings for blasphemy in Bauchi, infidelity-related killings in Ondo State, and a fatal stabbing related to cultism in Ogun State. He noted attacks on police stations, with the FCT recording one incident and Ebonyi State two, urging Nigerians to refrain from attacking security operatives.
