COVID-19 Regulations: Report Law Enforcement Agents Violating Human Rights – NHRC Tells Nigerians  

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Wednesday directed it’s staff to commence monitoring and documenting all cases of human rights violations on the enforcement of COVID-19 Regulations across the country for necessary action. 

The Commission said the directive followed reported cases of human rights violations by security operatives enforcing government directives on COVID-19,

A statement by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu Esq urged members of the public to report by telephone calls or text messages or video to relevant staff of the Commission and ensure that such reports include the location of the violation, date, time of such violations including a clear description of alleged violators and their victims, their gender and vulnerability (if possible, name, Sex, rank and security outfit of security personnel(s) or official(s)). 

The statement which was issued by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NHRC, Mr. Lambert Oparah listed the two states of Lagos and Ogun as well as the FCT where the Federal Government on 29th March gave directives for a two weeks lockdown over the COVID-19 for close monitoring. 

The Commission said that any complaints of human rights violations, should be reported to for documentation for redress to the Commissioners of police of the three areas which include: i) CP FCT:  08033438900, ii) CP Lagos: 08033438179 and iii) CP OGUN: 08033438900.

Similarly, the Commission said that any complaints of violations involving the Military should be reported to the Commission for documentation and directed for redress to the Director Army, Civil Military Affairs on telephone: 08057750691.

The NHRC also called on members of the public to report all cases of human rights violations to the Commissioners of police of the various states and the offices of the Commission across the country.

The Commission had on March 30, 2020, following Federal Government directives on COVID-19, called on law enforcement agencies to refrain from all forms of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of Nigerians in the implementation of the directives of the Government in line with the Anti Torture Act of 2017 and Convention Against Torture, to which Nigeria is a party. 

The NHRC said that reports indicate that some security operatives were openly torturing and violating the rights of citizens in flagrant disregard to rules of their engagements, the laws of Nigeria and its international Obligations.

The Commission accordingly, has designated some telephone numbers for reporting and documenting human rights violations during the implementation of Covid-19 Regulations.

The numbers are; 08037875427, 08179371339, 08034354537 and 07033398657.

The Human Rights Commission encouraged members of the public, bystanders and eyewitnesses, who can get video coverage of any violations to forward same to the above numbers by WhatsApp giving as much detail as possible to help locate and hold accountable violating law enforcement officials.

The Commission however enjoined all citizens in the affected states to comply with the Covid-19 directives to protect their rights to health and those of others.