Bauchi: NHRC received 417 complaints in 2019/2020

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Thursday, said it received 417 complaints of human rights violations between 2019 and 2020 in Bauchi State.

Mrs Yahcit Dala, the Coordinator of the Bauchi office of the commission, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mrs Dala said the commission came to Bauchi State in February, 2019, and received a total of 417 cases of human rights violations between 2019 and 2020.

She said, “Because our office was new in the state in 2019, we received only 78 complaints of human rights violations, while in 2020 we received 334 cases, and in the few days of 2021, we have received six complaints and disposed 165 complaints.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an enormous increase in the number of complaints and disposals; an indication of the awareness of human rights among the people, and also their growing faith in the commission.

“The number of complaints we are receiving in recent times is a manifestation that more people have become aware of their human rights in the state.”

She further said the commission embarked on a sensitisation and awareness campaign during the pandemic because of the high level of human rights violations, especially the sexual gender-based violence.

Mrs Dala said, “We collaborate with other human rights organisations, government, religious and traditional leaders and stakeholders to educate citizens on the need to know their rights and how to access the services of the commission.”

The coordinator said the country was committed to protecting human rights and strengthening the NHRC in line with its constitutional framework, adding that, “We are going to ensure that where the rights of any citizen are infringed upon, we will ensure such rights are enforced. Even criminals and convicts do have rights, not to talk about people who are only alleged to have committed offences.”

Dala, therefore, urged the citizens to report to the NHRC any violation of their human rights, explaining that the office was always there for the citizens who had genuine complaints of human rights violations. (NAN)