Alarming NHRC report says 467 Nigerians killed in four states in two months

At least 467 Nigerians lost their lives in four states – Kaduna, Benue, Katsina and Plateau – between July and August 2024, according to a disturbing report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The commission also revealed that more than 1,200 #EndBadGovernance protesters have been arrested and detained by security agencies across the country.

Presenting the human rights situation in Nigeria in July and August 2024 on Friday, Hillary Ogbona, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, expressed deep concern over the alarming level of human rights violations.

“A total of 414,200 complaints of human rights violations were received by the Commission across the country in the last two months,” Ogbona said.

The NHRC report highlighted the details of killings in four states: 142 in Kaduna, 137 in Benue, 112 in Katsina, and 76 in Plateau State. Ogbona stressed that protest is not a crime in Nigeria, but a legitimate way to express grievances against unfavorable government policies and programs.

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“The government should not try to stop the protests but to direct them. At the same time, the government should not equate genuine protesters with criminals,” Ogbona said, calling on the government to adopt a human rights approach to legitimate protests and to identify and evaluate the harm to victims with a view to supporting them.

The NHRC specifically appealed to the Federal Government to study how to manage protests as a legitimate means for aggrieved Nigerians to express their position, warning that failure to do so could lead to anarchy in the country.

Ogbona noted that the Commission was monitoring the prosecution of protesters in court and cautioned the government to ensure that the charges were based on clear information and facts, especially in cases where protesters were charged with treason.

The report also highlights astronomical increases in mass killings, kidnappings, attacks on police stations, attacks on press freedom, violations of the rights to association and assembly, killings of law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces, cases of violence against children, minors, and child neglect.

Disturbing NHRC Report Says 467 Nigerians Killed in Four States in Two Months First Posted on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.