High rate of human rights violation worrisome – Activists
http://www.punchng.com/high-rate-of-human-rights-violation-worrisome-activists/
Motunrayo Joel
Some human rights and social activists
have expressed concern over the increasing rate of human rights
violation in the country, saying it portends a great threat to Nigeria’s
socio-economic and corporate existence.
In a statement, the Chairman, National
Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, cautioned that acts such
as abuse, blackmail, extortion, battery, assault and arbitrary arrests
by both state and non-state actors were actions that could lead to
anarchy and chaos.
Odinkalu added that all Nigerian citizens were entitled to the protection and promotion of their human rights.
“Every human is unique in different ways
and it is wrong to treat certain people as inferior. A lot of Nigerians
still think it is okay to wipe people out because they advocate for a
particular cause. They even feel it is okay to beat up people because
they are women. The Chief Judge of Kenya wears earrings. Why would you
arrest people because they wear earrings? We look at these things and we
give judgment. How about if those people we refuse to protect are our
loved ones?”
Also, the Executive Director of the
Initiative for Equal Rights, Olumide Makanjuola, said sexuality was one
of the things people shied away from discussing.
He said, “Sometimes, people are arrested
because they dress in a certain way. That is not wrong. Our culture
allows expression of love and protection. There is no culture in the
world that says it is okay for people to be beaten, killed or sent to
prison because of who they are. Any culture that allows such should be
checked because that culture is dangerous to the existence of a people.
Anybody who beats or harasses people should have it in mind that he or
she would suffer the same fate too. We shouldn’t legalise violence and I
don’t think there is a culture that promotes violence based on the
identity of a people.”
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