Northern Nigeria Human Rights Advocates (NONIRA) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of priority redesign its security architecture to protect lives and properties of the citizens which is the main responsibility of the government.
The group which is a coalition of Human Rights Advocates in Northern Nigeria was reacting to several incidents of human rights abuses in the country and the recent series of attacks and killings in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State.
In a statement, the group’s Coordinator of Zone 1 Mr. Sylvester Yibis, condemned in totality what they described as torture, inhuman and degrading treatments on an 11 year old Margret Joshua, by one Mrs. Nneamaka Nwachuku a microbiologist who works with National Veterinary Research Institute NVRI Vom, Jos South Local Government area of Plateau State.
The victim, late Margret Joshua was said to be a survivor of insecurity in Kebbi State before she was brought to Mrs. Nwachuku in Plateau State.
In the same vain, the group also condemned the detention of Sadiya for a complete year without food, by her husband Ibrahim Yunusa Bature in Nguru Yobe state. The victim was rescued by her mother and was rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, but unfortunately the victim could not survived it.
Another human right concern raised by the group was “The locked up of 17 years old Khadija by her Aunt in Rikkos, Jos North area of Plateau State. The Aunt was said to have locked her in her house and starved her for one week, which led to malnourished and another 9 years minor brought from East was maltreated and asked to sleep in a shed meant for goats in Rukuba road, Jos North of Plateau state.”
Other cases of human rights abuses were, “The Killing of United Nation Foreign Aid worker by Nigeria Army in Damboa, Borno State and the wanton killings of 11 people and destruction of lives and properties by Unknown Armed groups in Bokkos and Mangu Communities of Plateau State.”
The Group called on the state to live up to their responsibility in safeguarding civilians in Nigeria while quoting section 34(1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prohibits acts of torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment, these practices are still the order of the day. This aptly shows the inadequacy of Section 34(1) (a) of the Constitution and the need for specific legislation whose primary aim is to curb the use of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the state and non-state actors, thereby making it a criminal offence.
“This agitation for the criminalization of torture has led to the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in 2017.
Nigeria has also ratified the child rights act in 2003 and Plateau state remains one of the states in Nigeria that has domesticated the child right law since 2005, and also established a family court that handles cases of violence against children but the malicious and illegal trafficking of children or minors in the name of house maid and other forms of violence against children has been on the increase in the state.
These acts must stop and in the case of Margret Joshua, Mrs Nneamaka Nwachuku must face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to other hidden perpetrators.
NONIHRA’s team of Lawyers and para-legals has commenced independent investigations into the case and will go the extra mile to ensure proper justice administration on this matter” Part of the text read.
I am one of the members of Youth for Human Rights International resided in Bauchi state my comments are whole human rights activities must units under one strong voice if we really need to achieve our designated mission…….