Nigeria Human Rights body receives 1.7 million complaints, resolves only 200

Bem Angwe, Executive Secretary NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday said it received a total of 1,179,510 complaints of human rights violations between January and November.

Its Executive Secretary, Bem Angwe, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, said the commission had treated over 500 cases out which 200 had been won.

According to him, the number of complaints being received by the commission shows that Nigerians are becoming more aware of their human rights.

“This year, the National Human Rights Commission has crossed the one million annual threshold in its complaint status.

“At the end of November, the complaints received by the commission stood at 1,179,510 in one year.

“This is a testimony of the visibility and the confidence that the people of Nigeria have on the NHRC.

“As I speak to you, the commission has treated more than 500 cases and won more than 200 cases where persons, who were illegally detained without trial, have been released and compensation ordered in their favour.

“The number of complaints we are receiving is a manifestation that more Nigerians are becoming aware of their human rights.

“The number of complaints we are receiving today is a manifestation that more Nigerians have become aware of their human rights.

Mr. Angwe also said that the commission had begun the enforcement of the rights of Nigerians illegally detained in prison without trial.

Some of the victims, he said, were being compensated with N2 million each. He did not give further details.

The executive secretary also said the commission would investigate the recent alleged detention of a journalist, Friday Ogungbemi, by security agents in Kogi.

“With respect to the journalist that they are talking about, the situation is like others where Nigerians do have their rights infringed on.

“We would do everything possible, as we have been doing before, to stand by our journalist and to also enforce their rights.

“We are not saying that as journalists they cannot go wrong, but if they are wrong then the due process of the law must be followed, and they should not be incarcerated or detained.

“We are going to ensure that where the right of any journalist is infringed, even where that journalist is alleged to have committed an offence we will ensure their rights are enforced.

“Because if even criminals and convicts do have rights, not to talk about people who are only alleged to have committed an offence. So, we are going to do that.’’

(PT)