Democracy Day : NHRC Says Nigerians Still Suffering Human Right Abuses

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that reports of extra-judicial killings and torture by security operatives were proof that the right of Nigerians were still being violated in the country.

NHRC disclosed this in a statement sent to THE WHISTLER in commemoration of Nigeria’s June 12 Democracy Day of which had been declared a public holiday in the country.

“Despite the progress made in the nation’s democracy, the country continues to suffer human rights violations resulting from security challenges, youth unemployment, recurring mass atrocities and crimes, kidnappings, incessant extra-judicial killings and torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, discrimination, injustice and gross inequalities, Rape, sexual and gender based violence, and above all, impunity, weak institutions and lack of political will to hold perpetrators accountable for several types of human rights violations,” it stated.

On his part, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu Esq advised Nigerians not to lose hope but expect the emergence of a better Nigeria.

He also urged the National Assembly not to play down the respective proposals made by Nigerians during the zonal public hearings on the review of the 1999 constitution.

THE WHISTLER reported that the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, had on May 12 invited Nigerians to make input during the review.

Speaking further, Ojukwu said that the lawmakers can fix the country from the legislative arm.

He therefore asked relevant stakeholders “to use the opportunity of the ongoing Constitutional reforms to make meaningful contributions to the constitutional amendments so as to have a peaceful and egalitarian society free from discrimination, injustice, inequality and rancor, where everyone will be happy and fulfilled as a citizen.”

The NHRC ES also condemned the destruction of government properties, describing it as a wrong way to express grievances in a nation.

“He commiserated with families of law enforcement personnel who lost their lives in these barbaric attacks and condoled with the families of innocent citizens who may have lost their lives in the cross fire following response to these attacks on police and INEC infrastructure across the country,” the statement partly read.