Insecurity: NHRC urges law enforcement agencies to explore new strategies

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC in Nigeria has called on the security agencies to explore new strategies to rid the country of criminal elements fuelling ethno-religious conflicts, armed banditry and other social vices.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu who made the call in Abuja, the nation’s capital to commemorate the 2021 National Day of Mourning and Remembrance of Victims of Mass Atrocities, NDMRVMA, noted the festering criminalities as violations of the fundamental human rights of citizens, which the government at all levels must rise up and tackle head-on.

According to Mr. Ojukwu, “This year’s remembrance of NDMRVMA is an avenue to remind government of its primary purpose which is the security and welfare of the citizenry as enshrined in section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.“

The Chief Human Rights Officer said that of recent, ethno-religious conflicts, armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, land disputes and tensions between pastoralists and farmers resulting in loss of lives and displacements have unfortunately become the order of the day.

“It is on this note the Commission is pressing for a stronger national response because it seems there is no end to the cycle of escalated violence which is fuelled by impunity, given that perpetrators are rarely brought to justice,“ the Executive Secretary stated.

The NHRC Scribe observed that mass atrocities in the country has increased the level of poverty, limited access to education, sexual and gender-based violence and serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

He, therefore, called on the government and the law enforcement agencies to as a matter of necessity explore new strategies to curb the rising criminalities, as well as strengthen all institutions involved in providing security in the country and also ensure accountability for mass atrocities in Nigeria.

PIAK