The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, on Monday stated that South East takes the first with Enugu State ranking number in Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV in the entire country.
Executive Secretary, NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu disclosed this in Enugu during the second round of sitting of the Commission’s panel set up to ascertain cases of sexual abuse and gender based violence in Nigeria in 8 states of the country – Enugu, Lagos, Ebonyi, Cross-Rivers, Rivers, Sokoto, Adamawa and Abuja.
Ojukwu said that out of the 113 complaints/memo received across the six geopolitical zones, during the first sitting of the Panel, South East accounted for 35 cases, representing 30% of the entire complaints received, while South South accounted for 26; North Central, 19; North West, 17; South West, 12 and North East, 4.
In the same vein, Ojukwu also disclosed that in the second round of panel’s sitting taking place in eight states of the Federation, Enugu State took the first position, accounting for 30, out of the 119 complaints received, followed by Abuja with 26; Rivers, 16; Lagos, 15; Ebonyi, 12; Cross- Rivers, 9; Sokoto, 7 and Adamawa, 4 complaints.
He explained that the Federal Government set up the Panel on Friday, April 26, 2019 following a complaint received that armed security personnel led by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, under the auspices of FCT Task Force raided night clubs and streets in Abuja, arresting and detaining 71 women in police custody who eventually alleged sexual harassment as well as other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted on them by the security agents.
He also explained that as a result of the unsavoury incident in Abuja, Office of the Vice President requested that the Commission should take steps to arrest the scourge and make appropriate recommendations to the government.
The NHRC boss said the Panel would comply with the COVID-19 protocols in accordance with NCDC guidelines and commended complainants and the general public for the courage to lodge and follow up complaints brought before the Commission.
Ojukwu assured the Commission’s preparedness to ensure fair hearing in the discharge of their functions.
“May I use this opportunity to commend the complainants and the public for the courage to lodge and follow up their complaints and submit memoranda to this Panel despite some reported cases of intimidation. I want to reiterate the assurance of this Panel and the Commission’s commitment to the principles of fair hearing in discharging its function,” he assures.
