BENUE STATE has remained one of Nigeria’s most troubled displacement flashpoints, out of 11 states with 39,852 displaced persons in six months.
The Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said this in Abuja at a consultation forum on protection of Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) in Nigeria.
The event was organised by the NHRC in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The theme for the event is: “The protection of IDPs in Nigeria through durable solutions, strengthening collaboration between government, civil society organisations and humanitarian partners.”
Ojukwu said that the NHRC/UNHCR project continues to serve as an essential platform for documenting, analysing, and responding to the human rights realities IDPs, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Returnees.
Other states, he said are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
“Over the period from February to September, the project recorded the 58 per cent growth in IDPs reached, reflecting strengthened field coordination and commitment of NHRC and UNHCR to expanding human rights protection coverage.
“Furthermore, our cumulative figures from February to September confirm that 72,119 females and 62,403 males, confirming the feminisation of displacements.
“Children remain the single largest demographic at 64,058 cumulatively, underscoring persistent vulnerability among minors” he said.
The data, according to Ojukwu compelled the commission to act, with the latest NHRC/UNHCR August to September Dashboard presentation recording 2,452 total human rights incidents.
He noted that most critical violations included access to Education (865 cases) and access to Socio-Economic Rights (Food and Shelter) (1,283 cases) which represented the highest case volumes and demonstrate a severe survival crisis across the project states.
He said in total, 135,358 Forcibly Displaced Populations were identified and 8,372 human rights incidents were recorded across the 11 project states.
“Kano had the highest number of lack of Access to Socio-Economic Rights and Education incidents at 1,283 and 865 respectively.
“The data shows that while our Human Rights Monitors and Community Protection Action Group (CPAG) members are fulfilling their mandate to monitor, identify, and refer human rights cases, they face systemic challenges.
“Ultimately, the need for deeper inter-agency coordination and collaboration at state and local government levels is evident” he said.
Mr Timothy Zadom who spoke on behalf of UNHCR in Nigeria said the engagement was timely and points to the right direction in ensuring that everyone’s human rights are upheld and continue to be validated daily.
“Forcibly displaced persons are those who were internally displaced or those that have crossed an international border, as in the case with refugees. Obedient returnees and stateless persons are often uniquely adversely disadvantaged within our communal settings.
“As a result of their displacement status, beyond the data and the news headlines, it is important to delve deeper into what their lives really are like.
“Their experiences, and what we can all collectively do to ensure their environment. inclusion, and conservation within our means as global citizens, which is a responsibility towards each other.
“It is for these reasons and more that I believe we are here today.
“Our shared experiences, valuable expertise, and impactful intended recommendations should help to richly enhance the work of the National Human Rights Commission and the government, who are the primary duty bearers towards these persons” he said.
He commended NHRC’s this bold undertaking of its mandate and commits to continue to support the leadership and ownership of it. (NAN)
