National Human Rights Commission, UN Launches Intervention Report On Farmers-Herders Crisis

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched a report on “Integrated Approach to building peace in Nigeria’s Farmer/Herder crisis project in Middle-Belt” using Benue state as pilot project.

The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, noted at the launch that the project constituted one of the commission’s intervention programs at building peace, reducing conflicts and enhancing human rights.

He said the project which lasted for a period of 18 months was done in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Middle belt to mitigate the vulnerabilities of the people and ensure peace building among the communities as well as monitor reportage of extra judicial killings by state and non-state actors.

He recalled that the project which started in August, 2019 focused on 15 local government areas of Benue state which are the epicenter of the farmer-herder crisis in the state.

The local governments include Agatu, Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer-East, Gwer-West, Katsin-Ala, Kwande, Logo, Makurdi, Ogbadibo, Oju Otukpo, Tarka, and Ukum.

According to Ojukwu, “The Commission specifically has protection measures for humanitarian actions through human rights approach to peace building activities in conflict areas. This ethical responsibility is aimed at advancing the promotion and protection of human rights across crisis prone areas.

“To promote protection for all persons in Internally Displaced Persons Camps, it is vital to recognize that practices such as sex for food, domestic violence, and neglect of elderly and lactating mothers are all embedded in Gender-Based violence, discrimination, and substantive inequality for women and children.

“In addressing these noted challenges, the Commission and her partner, OHCHR
deployed human rights monitors who carried out monitoring activities on human rights violations with the objectives of achieving justice and equality for all the residents of the communities.”

The launching witnessed in attendance representatives of security agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), among others.