By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) revealed on Friday in Abuja that the country recorded 1,580 human rights violations in the six geopolitical zones in the month of March alone.
The rights violations included killings, kidnapping, domestic violence, abductions, children rights abuses, among others.
Senior Human Rights Adviser at the NHRC, Mr Hilary Ogbona, said the North Central topped the list of the complaints of human rights violations recorded with 468 cases
At the presentation of the findings attended by the Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Commission and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Ogbona explained that the police, military, and Department of State Service DSS grouped as State Actors recorded 94 rights violations cases.
The rights adviser explained that the killings of the military and police personnel in Delta State formed part of the report, revealing that 542 cases of violation of children’s rights were also recorded during the period.
Besides, Ogbona explained that domestic violence, which he said was becoming too rampant in some parts of the country, accounted for 471 of recorded cases.
He said that the non-state and private actors were responsible for 32 and 36 respectively, while three cases of violation of rights were recorded against disabled persons.
According to him, other sectors including social economic and cultural rights accounted for 157 while referred cases were put at 24.
He said that killings and kidnappings accounted for 499 while another 71 violations of rights to life were also recorded by the commission during the period.
Ogbonna said that the 1,580 human rights violations were the entire figures recorded in the 36 states offices of the commission and Abuja.
Expressing worry over the increasing cases of human rights violation, Ogbonna said that about 301 school children were abducted in Kaduna state alone while 40 persons were killed in Benue state.
He expressed dismay that the right to life was being violated in various ways, citing the four deaths recorded in Nasarawa State during sharing of palliatives as an example.
He called for restraint on the part of state and private actors adding that reprisal attacks contributed to the recorded rights violations.
Ogbona also appealed to police and military to always conduct their investigations in compliance with the rules of engagement and rule of law as provided for in the national and international laws.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Commission Ojukwu, reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
He promised to partner with other stakeholders including government in the bid to step up efforts to protect lives and properties and in ensuring downward slide in the violations of human rights.
The NHRC monthly dashboard aimed at making human rights situation public is supported by United Nations Development Program, Office of the United Nations High Commission for human rights and others.