The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed its deep concern about the recent escalation of violent attacks and killings in Benue and Plateau States.
The executive secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, swiftly reacted to the disturbing situation yesterday in Abuja and emphasised that the right to life is a fundamental human right enshrined in various international and national instruments.
Ojukwu lamented that these incidents have resulted in the tragic loss of lives, the displacement of innocent people, and the wanton destruction of property, leaving many families and communities in trauma and despair.
He further expressed concern that these attacks, rooted in herders/farmer clashes, are degenerating into ethnic, religious, or communal tensions and warned that if not checked, they could exacerbate the situation and lead to further human rights violations.
“The NHRC is worried about the consequences of the ongoing carnage in Plateau and Benue during this rainy season, which is the farming season. As we are all aware, Benue is the nation’s food basket. The present insecurity, if unchecked, means that people can no longer go to the farms this farming season.
The ongoing insecurity, particularly in the food-producing regions of the country, all point to the looming famine and food insecurity in the near future. The trillions and billions borrowed from the banks to support Local Agriculture risk being wasted due to persistent insecurity and apparent lack of political will to deal with this menace for the past 10 years and more”.
“The NHRC recognizes the important role that stakeholders can play in preventing further violence and promoting human rights. All must make efforts to hold perpetrators to account, including a public investigation, restitution, justice and compensation to victims and their families,” he stressed.
The country’s Chief Human Rights Officer called on the government at all levels to take immediate and concrete steps to address the escalating security situation in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of the country, adding that the Government has the primary duty of protecting civilians.
He called for the deployment of adequate security personnel to affected areas to ensure the protection of lives and property as well as the Conduct of a thorough investigation into the incidents and prosecuting perpetrators of violence to ensure accountability and justice, provision of support and protection to vulnerable populations, including women, children and the elderly.
The NHRC Executive Secretary assured that the Commission would continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant authorities to ensure that human rights are protected and promoted. He used the opportunity to renew calls for state and local government, police, and the adoption of a national policy for the protection of civilians and human harm mitigation during conflicts and ranching to forestall the escalation of terrorism, banditry, and herder/farmer clashes in the country.
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