The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disclosed that Benue State 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 NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu made this disclosure in Abuja at a consultation forum on protecting of Rights of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs)and Forcibly Displaced Persons ( FDFs) 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. ”
According to Ojukwu, 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.
NHRC boss added that most critical violations included access to Education (865 cases) and access to Socio-Economic Rights (Food and Shelter) (1,283 cases)j 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.
