The Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in its entirety the spate of killings and total disregard to the sanctity of human lives being perpetrated by various criminals within the country. The council called on Federal Government of Nigeria to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of the incessant killings.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Governing Council at its meeting held 9th June 2022 on the Spate of Killings in Nigeria
The council stated that; “Sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended protect the lives and dignity of citizens of Nigeria subject only to the exceptions therein stated.
“Heinous crimes and killings are being perpetrated with impunity as exemplified in the recent Kaduna train attack, the attack at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State, the killing of a young man Ahmed Usman, at the Lugbe axis of the Federal Capital Territory for alleged blasphemy, the stoning to death of Deborah, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto also on grounds of alleged blasphemy, the killing of a pregnant woman Fatima (Harira) and her four children, and various others across the country”.
Meanwhile,the NHRC Governing Council has condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in these and other various attacks and prayed that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.
The NHRC also seized the opportunity to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify efforts towards apprehending these criminals and bringing them to justice as well as improving the security situation in the country.
The NHRC therefore implored every Nigerian to take necessary steps to contribute to the peace and security of the nation by providing information to security personnel and preaching the essence of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among other measures.
“The NHRC remains fully committed to playing its role in the promotion, protection and enforcement of the human rights of the citizens of Nigeria as well as all resident therein” the statement added.
