The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) have strategized to prevent human rights violations in the Northeast. While announcing the human rights strategic project Monday in Maiduguri; tagged: “Research on the Security Accountability Mechanism of counter insurgency operations in the Northeast,” the Executive Secretary of Commission, Tony Ojukwu disclosed: “About 3.2 million people were displaced by the 12-year insurgency.
He said that the ongoing insurgency has displaced many people with threats of violence and various human rights violations. He also lamented the widespread human rights violations against civilians by state and non-state actors. According to him, the protection of citizens is an integral component of counter-terrorism operations and strategies. He attributed human rights violations to unlawful and extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention in life-threatening conditions, including civilian detentions in military facilities.
He noted that most of the detentions are based on flimsy or no evidence. Human rights violation has interfered with the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association, interference with communication facilities, rape, sexual and gender-based violence. He added that forced marriages, extortion, inhuman and degrading treatment of people amount to human rights violations. Ojukwu warned that; “Without accountability for violations of the right to life and other human rights in military and police operations, Nigeria will be acting contrary to the international human rights obligations and injustice.”
He said the protection of human rights and accountability for violations are imperative to a successful campaign against the terrorists. He further warned that unless appropriate strategic interventions are put in place, the trend and impunity could continue unabated.
