1 day Ago By Binta Shama
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the recent gruesome killing of 16 travelling hunters in Edo state, mistaken for kidnappers. The Commission, in a statement, Tuesday, issued by its executive secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, however, commended the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his swift action. Dr Ojukwu expressed deep concern over the horrific incident, which, according to him, highlighted the dangers of mob justice and the urgent need for effective law enforcement and respect for human rights.
It reads further: “We commend Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo, for his swift and decisive action in suspending the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd.), and banning all illegal vigilante groups operating in the state. But more need to be done.
“The Commission wishes to use this opportunity to remind the government and the people of Nigeria that every individual has the right to life, as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “The freedom of movement, as guaranteed by the constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has been grossly violated in this dastardly incident. “We at the commission demands that all the perpetrators be fished out and brought to justice.
We call on the government to take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future. There is no justification for jungle justice anywhere in the world,” he said..
