THERE is no denying the fact that human rights abuse constitutes an anathema to any society. It is an aberration and, if not tackled, can impede social, political and economic freedom and wellbeing of citizens and the society at large. That’s why in a civilized and democratic society, government plays tremendous role of protecting the rights of its citizens from abuse.The government does this through proactive safeguards of prevention, detection, and prosecution of sponsors, agents and privies of human rights abuse.
It’s however a cause for concern that the number of human rights violation increased to 261, 483 in April 2025, as disclosed recently by Mr. Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC). This issue is evidenced by the action of trigger-happy and lawless security operatives who often turn their triggers against innocent citizens rather than protect them. Numerous cases of police brutality, extra- judicial killings, invasion of citizens’ privacy, unlawful arrests and detention, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, use of excessive force to quash protests, resulting in the deaths and mob violence against innocent citizens appear to be gaining momentum.
But it did not start today. More than 1,000 people were arbitrarily arrested and detained nationwide and at least 24 protesters killed in violent crackdowns by the security forces in Kano and Maiduguri and in Jigawa, Katsina States and Niger alone during the August 1-10 2024, #EndBadGovernance protests. Indeed, Amnesty International report in october 2024, said at least 555 deaths from mob violence in 363 documented incidents took place in Nigeria between January 2012 and August 2023. According to the report, many of the victims were tortured to death or murdered after being accused of theft, witchcraft and blasphemy, among other things.
More worrisome is that many of the cases were neither investigated nor the perpetrators brought to justice. Again, on 8 August 2024, the police raided the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters, while on August 19, the Department of State Service (DSS) heckled Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.
Ajaerowas again arrested on 9 September 2024, by DSS officials at NnamdiAzikwe Airport, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yet there was no prosecution for obvious reason of lack of evidence to nail him.
Journalists and critics of the authorities are also not insulated from human rights abuse as they are more often than not, arrested and arbitrarily detained. For instance, On 15 March 2024, SegunOlatunji of an online news outlet The First News was arrested by security operatives because of an article he wrote accusing an official of the security agency of nepotism was released following public outcry but not after spending nearly two weeks in custody.
Another manifestation of rising abuse of human rights in our society is the heinous crimes of abduction, murder, mayhem, arson and sundry nefarious activities of Fulani herdsmen, terrorists and unknown gunmen which has assumed an alarming dimension, particularly in the northern part of the country. Between December 2023 and February 2024, gunmen attacked communities in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of Plateau state, killing 1,333 people, including 260 children.
Sometime in April, 2024, farmers/ herders clash in Omala local government area of Kogi State, left 21 people dead while eight others were injured in an attack by herdsmen in Birninkudu, Dutse and Kiyawa local government areas of Jigawa state. Similarly, in December 2024, gunmen killed at least 15 people — majority of them women and children during an attack on Gidan Ado community of Ganawuri in Riyom local government area of Plateau state, with dead bodies scattered in homes, backyards, and farms.
This gory narrative of our human rights profile is most disheartening as it poses danger not only to lives and property of innocent citizens but also clogs the wheels of social, political and economic development of the nation.
It is also a big threat to the sanctity of human life, dignity of citizens and sundry fundamental rights.
Granted that Nigeria is not the only country facing human rights abuse, but time has come to initiate drastic measures to address the issue and its dent on our image in the comity of nations caused by perpetrators of human rights abuse. This can be done through prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of sponsors of these inhuman acts.
