By Edith Nwapi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday said that it recorded the highest number of abductions in November.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN revealed this at the presentation of the November edition of the dashboard in Abuja.
“Every month, we gather here to share the state of human rights in our nation, but this month’s report hits especially hard.
” The Commission received 422,942 complaints and behind each one is a real person, a real family, a real story. These aren’t just numbers on paper. They are cries for help.
” In November alone, we recorded over 800 abductions. Think about that for a moment. That’s hundreds of people, mothers, fathers, and children taken away,” he said.
He lamented that among them were more than 55 farmers, kidnapped right from their farms while simply trying to make a living.
Ojukwu noted that some were travellers dragged off highways, students taken from their classrooms, and worshippers abducted during prayers.
” These attacks cut deep. They strike at the very heart of who we are as a people. The month of November was particularly sobering with the most cases of abductions since Chibok.
” The kidnappings of school children in Maga and Papiri in Kebbi and Niger States respectively calls for national retrospection and action.
” Education is not just a right, it is a fundamental human civilization, only through which we can conquer most of the world’s challenges including violent extremism, poverty and inequalities” he lamented.
Ojukwu lamented the insecurity that has gripped many communities which continues to worsen.
He added that entire villages live in fear. Families sleep with one eye open.
” People are afraid to travel, afraid to farm, afraid to send their children to school.
” This is not the Nigeria we want to leave for the next generation.
” When we look at all these violations together, a painful pattern becomes clear:
Impunity is growing. Too many people commit crimes believing nothing will happen to them,” he said.
Ojukwu expressed worry over what he called “shrinking civic space” , women and children bearing the brunt of violence, communities living in fear, day after day.
He said these were not isolated incidents that they are signs of deeper problems, problems that require courage, honesty, and collective action to solve.
” The Commission is doing everything within its mandate to document these violations, engage with security agencies, and push for accountability. But we cannot do it alone.
” We need government at all levels, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society, and everyday Nigerians to stand together and say: enough is enough.
” To the families who have lost loved ones, your pain is not invisible. It fuels our determination to keep fighting. And to those who commit these violations whether armed groups, individuals, or state actors let it be clear: the era of impunity must come to an end” he said.
Presenting the, senior human rights adviser to the commission, Mr Hiliary Ogbonna, lamented that they received 815 kidnappings which amounted to an increase of 700 per cent.
He added 217 killings amounting to reduction of 15 per cent.
Ogbonna said the commission in the month of November completed 6435 investigations, visited police stations, corrections and detention facilities 87 times. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
