Dr. Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has said that the newly introduced monthly dashboard on human rights violations was not meant to witch-hunt anybody or organisation but to awaken the consciousness of all stakeholders to the need to protect the rights and dignity of all Nigerians and others living in the country.

Ojukwu who stated this Wednesday at the second edition of the Commission’s monthly dashboard at the Bukhari House, national secretariat of the Commission in Abuja, also reiterated the unshakable commitment of the Commission in ensuring that the rights of citizens are protected; and where such rights are violated, perpetrators are brought to book.

Hilary Ogbonna, a Senior Adviser at the Commission who unveiled the Dashboard, said the Commission received a total of 1,484 complaints on rights violations for February, ranging from domestic violence, rape, defilements, underage marriage and obnoxious  cultural practices, among others, adding that the figure was a rise from the 1,148 complaints recorded in January.

He noted that of the number, complaints on child abandonment was the highest with 339 across the country.

The Commission also raised alarm on the current hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of government reforms which it said was responsible for people breaking food warehouses and carting away essential commodities.

Ojukwu said earlier that the monthly dashboard on the state of human rights in Nigeria presents facts, statistics and analysis of human rights violations across broad and specific thematic areas for policy makers, security and law enforcement agencies, civil society and the media to respond to the myriads of human rights violations in Nigeria.

He alerted participants at the event that Nigeria is facing social and economic challenges which no doubt impact on our enjoyment of human rights today.

According to Ojukwu, the dashboard is yet another tool through which the Commission seeks to exercise its mandate of human rights promotion, protection, monitoring and reporting.

“Coming on the heels of Nigeria’s presentation at the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, it is hoped that this dashboard process will assist the government in keeping tracks of its obligations to national, regional and international human rights instruments and mechanisms.

“The Commission remains committed at making accessible, information on human rights and will continue to cooperate with government at all levels, civil society, media and international development partners towards the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria,” Ojukwu said and added reiterated the commitment of the Commission to the protection of the rights of every every Nigerian citizen and others living in the country including the Police and other law enforcement personnel in the country, as he said that without security agencies, there would be no one to protect the rights of citizens.