Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, has stated that the National Human Rights Commission will continue to use every tool, mandate, and every power available to it as a status A Human Rights Institution to continue to promote, and protect the rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians without discrimination.
Ojukwu stated this in his address at the presentation of March 2025 Human Rights Situatution Dashboard in Abuja.
His words: “Today, as we gather for the March edition of our human rights dashboard, we are again confronted with the stark realities shaping the lives of Nigerians. This is not a time for complacency or recycled clichés. We must speak clearly, honestly, and with urgency demanding accountability where it is due. Our offices in Abuja and throughout the 36 states of the Federation have worked diligently to collate and analyze the numerous complaints received by the Commission, as well as monitor and report on other human rights violations across the country through our human rights observatory. In the month of March, we received a total of 246,200 complaints. This number reflects the ongoing challenges and protection gaps we face in securing human rights for all Nigerians.”
Ojukwu further stated that violations involving state actors and violations related to freedom from discrimination remain of significant concern. His words: “These issues are not isolated; they are systemic, and they demand our collective attention and action.”
According to NHRC boss, March also saw a disturbing increase in terrorist groups attacking vulnerable communities across. These violent assaults represent not only security breaches but also fundamental violations of the most basic human rights, the right to life, the right to personal security, and the right to live free from fear. Equally alarming is the surge in targeted abduction of religious leaders, a deliberate strategy that not only violates their personal safety but assaults the very principles of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
He further noted that the NHRC strongly condemns the invasion of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company headquarters by personnel from the Nigerian Air Force at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos State. He said: “The brutal assault of workers violated basic rights to safety, dignity, and freedom from abuse. It is especially shocking that security forces harmed those they should protect. We are seeing a pattern of abuse of authority by those who wear uniforms, and this should be condemned in the strongest terms. Such actions undermine public trust and can not be tolerated. NHRC demands immediate accountability and justice for the victims, and we call on the military, security, and law enforcement agencies to commit to discharging their duties within the ambits of the law and with utmost respect for the dignity of the human person.
Ojukwu further condemns the tragic killing of 16 hunters by local vigilantes on the Uromi/Obajana Expressway in Edo describing it as another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers posed by jungle justice. He further commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for his swift action in responding to the incident noting that “we must not loss sight of the big picture: ensuring that no one, whether accused or victim, is denied a fair and just process. It is essential to remember that every individual has the right to life, as enshrined in our Constitution and other regional and international instruments. While we understand the sentiments and the need for strong measures against such heinous acts, it is crucial to uphold the rights of the accused and ensure that justice is administered in a manner consistent with international human rights standards.”
Similarly, on the Supreme Court’s recent death sentence given to Sunday Jackson for the killing of a Fulani herdsman in an alleged act of self-defence is of grave concern noting that one can describe it as an assault on the soul of human rights in Nigeria. He also stated: “Section 33 of our Constitution guarantees the right to life, explicitly recognizing self-defense as a sacred shield against unlawful violence. To sentence Sunday Jackson to death for protecting his own life is a dangerous precedent. We call on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to exercise his constitutional power of clemency under Section 212 of the Constitution and spare Jackson’s. Justice must never equate to punishment for the defenceless.”
He further stressed: “Despite the daunting challenges we face, I must emphasize that our work at the National Human Rights Commission does not end with the publication of this dashboard. This dashboard serves as a clarion call for all of us- government, civil society, and international community- to take concrete action. We have a mandate to act with urgency and to demand systemic reforms that address these violations at their root.
The highlight of the event was the signing of an Advisory Opinion on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Nigeria issued pursuant to Section 5(l)(m)(o) of the National Human Rights Act (As amended) of 2010. According to Ojukwu: “This Advisory is not just a document. It is a well thought out Instrument aimed at serving as a Guideline to law enforcement, the judiciary, the media, the civil society, and the general on the importance of the freedom of expression and the need to protect it in the face of recent violations orchestrated by the enforcement of Section 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act. The NHRC holds the view that the Freedom of Expression is sacrosanct and any legislation seeking to abridge it must not be vague or open to abuse by law enforcement and should be justified in the spirit of our Constitution in democratic society.”
Ojukwu also expressed his gratitude to UNDP and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their continued support as well as the media and all stakeholders.
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