The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for urgent re-training of security personnel in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states to enhance their effectiveness in protecting forcibly displaced persons. This recommendation was made in light of the challenges faced by security operatives in the North East region.
During a media briefing in Abuja, NHRC’s Project Coordinator, Benedict Agu, highlighted that the commission reached out to 48,598 forcibly displaced persons in the first half of the year through its Human Rights Monitoring Team. The project, carried out in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aims to safeguard the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in these conflict-affected states.
Agu emphasized the need for better resources, including vehicles, laptops, solar panels, and increased stipends for the task team to ensure effective service delivery. He also reported regular visits to detention centres, correctional facilities, and military cells to monitor compliance with international human rights standards and to address concerns related to the forcibly displaced.
“The project is focused on ensuring that forcibly displaced persons have access to justice and are protected from arbitrary arrest, detention, and other human rights violations. Relevant stakeholders promptly address any abuses identified in the criminal justice sector,” Agu stated.
He noted that the NHRC team is dedicated to identifying human rights violations and providing immediate solutions, while cases beyond their mandate are referred to UNHCR partners or appropriate government agencies.
Despite the progress, Agu pointed out several challenges, including a limited number of task team members, inadequate working materials, and the absence of lawyers and courts in certain areas, which hinder the administration of justice.
NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, added that the project’s objective is to monitor the human rights situation in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, aiming to reduce the vulnerability of forcibly displaced persons by ensuring timely interventions by the government and humanitarian actors.
“This initiative provides stakeholders with crucial insights into the evolving human rights issues faced by forcibly displaced persons and explores collaborative avenues to address these challenges,” Ojukwu concluded.
