The National Human Rights Commission, in Nigeria, has extolled the efforts and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as the commitments of the Governments and citizens of the North-Eastern States of the country towards reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reintegration of communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Executive Secretary of the commission Mr. Tony Ojukwu gave this commendation at a Traditional and Religious Leaders Forum on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation in North East Nigeria held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The Executive Secretary said the Armed Forces have made a lot of sacrifices to secure the civilian population despite the difficult terrain in which they operate in the fights against insurgency.
On the issue of Transitional justice which is the crux of the Forum, the human rights Boss urged the traditional and religious leaders to assist the Commission to facilitate the effective implementation of the project.
The NHRC boss stressed that the role of traditional and religious leaders in any peace-building process cannot be over-emphasized.
“In many of our communities across Nigeria, traditional and religious leaders are the centrepiece of our civilization, facilitating and shaping education and socialization from cradle to grave”
He noted that traditional and religious institutions in North-Eastern Nigeria have advanced social and economic development dating back many centuries.
He thanked the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states for their partnership in the implementation of the Transitional Justice Project, and for the leadership and resilience, they have all shown in tackling the security and development challenges affecting the region.
“You have a partner in the National Human Rights Commission, and we pledge our mandate and resources to continuously work with you in addressing these challenges”, the executive assured.
The Shehu of Borno His Royal Highness Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi assured the Commission and other partners that he is in total support of the project aimed at peace-building and reconciliation, and achieving the goals of the Transitional Justice Project in the North East.
Represented by his Secretary, Alhaji Zanna Umar Ali, the Shehu specifically thanked the NHRC Boss, the project partners, and the sponsors, UNDP and EU for supporting the peace and reconciliation process in the North East.
In his keynote speech, Professor Umara Ibrahim Gudumbali of the Department of the Political Science University of Maiduguri, charged the traditional rulers and religious leaders to borrow a leaf from the ancient mechanisms of settling disputes in attempting to address the current crises occasioned by insurgency in the North East.
Recalled that in 2021, the NHRC in collaboration with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union, launched a Project on Promoting Transitional Justice, Reconciliation, and Reintegration in Adamawa Yobe and the Borno States.
The project was launched on the premise of bringing lasting peace to the communities affected by insurgency through truth-telling, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Dominica Nwabufo
