NHRC Probes 1,643,018 Complaints of Human Rights Violations

The National Human Rights Commission said out of the 2,314,440 complaints received in 2022, it investigated and concluded 1,643,018 complaints representing 70.99 per cent.

This was disclosed in its 2022 annual report.

The complaints it probes are categorised into five, namely: civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, women and children, vulnerable groups and developmental rights/emerging human rights.

Out of the 2,314,440 complaints received, Rivers, Kaduna, Delta, Imo, Niger, Ebonyi, Lagos, and Sokoto states received the highest number of complaints, with Rivers State topping the list at 275,057 complaints, Kaduna got the second highest complaints of 242,220; while Delta got 222,398 complaints, as the third.

Also, Imo recorded 185,314 complaints; Niger, 149,155; Ebonyi, 136,685; Lagos, 120,783; Sokoto, 105,209; Bauchi, 94,753; Abia, 72,318; Kwara, 71,719; Federal Capital Territory (headquarters), 66,110; Adamawa, 65,456; Kano, 59,738; Oyo, 39,698; Edo, 38,827; Enugu, 27,827; and Plateau State, 26,357.

Others include: Kogi, 24,995; Katsina, 23,688; Taraba, 22,436; Jigawa, 20,094; Gombe, 22,000; Zamfara, 17,970; Ondo, 17,753; Akwa Ibom, 17,698; Cross River, 16,936; Bayelsa, 16,337; Kebbi, 14,866; Anambra, 14,267; Benue, 12,253; Nasarawa, 12,253; Ekiti, 12,035; Yobe, 11,926; Borno, 10,837; and Ogun, received 10,183 complaints.

In addition to the above, the Abuja Metropolitan Office and Osun State got less than 10,000 complaints, with Osun State also taking the rear as the state with the least number of complaints at 7,243 complaints.

The document revealed that the “commission received a total of 478,610 complaints in the first quarter of 2022, while 779,543 complaints were received in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the complaints profile rose to 781,156 complaints but dropped by a wide margin to 275,131 complaints in the fourth quarter.

“A total of 2,314,380 were found admissible, while 60 were inadmissible in line with the rules of procedure.

“It further revealed that a total of 1,643,018 complaints were concluded and 671,362 complaints were ongoing,” NHRC said.

It further revealed that complaints regarding quality of life issues topped the list with 567,160 complaints, while child rights issues followed with 388,700 complaints. The lowest figures recorded for rights of the aged, 80 cases followed at a far distance by freedom of religion with 2,080 cases.