The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concern over the escalating attacks, kidnappings, and killings of innocent Nigerians in Kebbi, Kwara and other States of the Federation describing it as becoming one incident too many that shows the dignity to human life is fast waning in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, expressed the concern in a statement in Abuja, signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, the Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages.
According to Ojukwu, the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi and the killing of worshippers in Kwara remind us again of the grave danger facing our nation.
The NHRC wonders why the giant of Africa is still battling rag tag Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists since 2009 without conclusive success.
While expressing worry on these heinous acts of violence, the Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria said Nigerians demand immediate action from the government to protect the right to life of all citizens.
He noted that it is a matter of moral and legal obligation for the government to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, adding that every life is precious and should be preserved.
He said that the Chibok school girls incident and other similar ugly misfortunes like the recent Maga school incident call to question the safe schools declaration Nigeria subscribed to, noting that such should not be allowed to reoccur as these dastardly acts put the right to life and safety of schools and places of worship under threat.
According to the Learned Silk, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 33(1), guarantees the right to life, stating that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life” .
He observed that Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Nigeria has ratified, states that “Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person. No one may be arbitrarily deprived of this right.”
He further stated that Nigeria is a signatory to several other international human rights instruments that protect the right to life, including:
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states that Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Ojukwu urged the government to take immediate action to protect the right to life of all Nigerians, in line with its constitutional and international obligations.
“We demand: Effective investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of these heinous crimes; adequate compensation and support to victims and their families; strengthening of security measures to prevent future attacks; and most importantly Increased vigilance and reporting of suspicious activities by citizens.”
He reiterated the commitment of NHRC to continue to monitor the situation and make necessary recommendations to the relevant authorities.
