The Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other stakeholders, has decried rising cases of killings and insecurity in the country, urging the government to make sustainable move that will tackle the menace.
Mr Ojukwu who said such violence creates fears, instability and undermines democracy also leads to broader unrest in the society.
He stated this at a mass atrocities summit, organised by Global Rights Nigeria, with the theme “Remembering to prevent: Enhancing accountability for mass atrocities through effective documentation.
Represented by the Director Monitoring Department NHRC, Benedict Agu, said this year’s election was very violent as at least 137 people were killed and over 60 people were abducted between December 2022 and March, 2023.
.”We are here to discuss ways to prevent election violence. True prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen, it is preventing them from happening at all” he said.
The Summit is annually event organised by Global Rights and its partners to enhance knowledge of the various forms of atrocities in the country.
The Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Ms Abiodun Baiyewu pointed out that mass atrocity can be attributed to banditry, kidnapping, community clashes, extra judicial killing, herdsmen attacks, isolated attacks, mob attacks, political violence, ritual killings and secessionist movement.
She said: “The repeated killings in Nigeria is a reminder that we need the operationalisation of Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which commands the government to ensure the safety of lives and property of Nigerians.
She lamented that “We are losing our security men and women, our greatest asset when it comes to security. Abduction has skyrocketed over the years. “It is a matter of great concern”.
A political Analyst Bar Anthony Idoko and Executive Director House of Justice Gloria Ballason, agreed that the nation’s justice system must be active, while government ensure that violators of the law are punished.
Reporting by Julian Osamoto; editing by Adeniyi Bakare