Nahimat Adekoga
The National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), yesterday, asked the Federal Government to take more seriously, its responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians.
The commission in a statement by its Acting Executive Secretary, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah, said it was time the government ended incessant attack of “defenceless Nigerians” by suspected herdsmen.
The statement said: “Time has come for the government and security agencies to ensure effective protection of lives and property of defenceless Nigerians who have been victims of incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen in the country.”
Ovrawah made the call, while reacting to recent report of attacks by suspected herdsmen which led to loss of lives and property in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, as well as similar reports in different parts of the country.
The Acting NHRC boss maintained that the government and security agencies must act fast to put a stop to the menace.
She called on security agencies to be more proactive, professional and more committed in the discharge of their duties in containing persistent attacks by herdsmen, adding that there is an urgent need to prioritize preventive measures to curtail these attacks.
Ovrawah stated that the Commission, having received some complaints on alleged attacks by herdsmen, was partnering with other stakeholders to work out amicable solution to these avoidable attacks. She noted with regret that the incessant attacks led to thousands of deaths accompanied by countless cases of displacements.
She advised communities to embrace the age long beneficial relationship of peaceful coexistence and to desist from taking arms against themselves.
She observed that conflicts were usually fuelled by human rights abuses, Oti noted that addressing those abuses requires an inevitable process of peace building.
