The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged law enforcement agencies to safeguard protesters and property during the ongoing national protests.
Mr. Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, conveyed this message while addressing journalists in Abuja. He noted that the NHRC would deploy officials to oversee the nationwide protests to ensure that human rights are upheld.
Ojukwu highlighted that the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to protest and advised all parties to avoid actions that could threaten public safety, damage property, or undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the Human Rights Executive Secretary,
“Section 39 of the Constitution also imposes an obligation on law enforcement and security agencies deployed to protests, as well as organizers of protests and their supporters. The right to freedom of assembly and protest has also been affirmed in judicial cases. For instance, in the case of the Inspector General of Police and All Nigerian People’s Party and others, 2007 AHLR 179, the Court of Appeal established the judicial principles that recognize the paramount importance of the right to freedom of association and assembly”.
He added that law enforcement must balance respecting citizens’ rights with maintaining public order, without infringing upon constitutional freedoms.
Ojukwu stressed that citizens and protesters must conduct themselves orderly, respect the law, and ensure the security of other citizens and both public and private properties.
“In light of this, the NHRC, in fulfilling its mandate, calls on the Federal and State Governments to uphold the fundamental rights and state policy objectives outlined in the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.
“The NHRC will exercise its protective and promotional mandate to monitor all protests in Nigeria and ensure adherence to human rights principles by both state and non-state actors,” Ojukwu concluded.
The National Human Rights Commission was established by the National Human Rights Act, 1995 in line with the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations which enjoined all member States to establish Human Rights Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights