A renowned Human Rights Activist, Comrade Naheem Olaore popularly known as Malcolm X has addressed Human Rights violation and other related matters, in Nigeria
Olaore, who is the Secretary of Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), lamented violations of international humanitarian law, freedom of expression, association and assembly, and others like arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, excessive and unnecessary use of force, extrajudicial executions and forced evictions, in Nigeria.
The former Chairman of Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the State of Osun, in a statement on Saturday, charged Federal Government of Nigeria to give Human Rights priority and stop acting tyrannically.
Olaore emphasised that governments at all strata in Nigeria have perpetually failed to protect their citizens and he cited different cases.
On violations of international humanitarian law and abuses by armed groups, Olaore recalled that,”The state failed in its responsibility to protect people from various abuses committed by Boko Haram and ISWAP as well as unknown gunmen. According to media reports, they killed at least 6,907 people, abducted 6,157 and forcibly transferred or internally displaced at least 2,000. Attacks by Boko Haram, which had been predominantly in the north-east, spread to some states in north-central and north-western Nigeria during the year. Attacks by Boko Haram directed against civilians, such as those targeting villagers, farming communities and highway and train passengers, amounted to war crimes.
Olaore also noted that,”Security forces consistently violated human rights in the context of military operations conducted against Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria. In December, an international news agency reported that the Nigerian military had conducted a secret forced abortion programme in the north-east since 2013, ending at least 10,000 pregnancies without the consent or prior knowledge of the women and girls concerned, which could amount to war crimes and a crime against humanity.
Olaore fumed that the Nigerian authorities have consistently failed to hold security officials accountable for crimes committed against civilians.
Malcolm X reiterated different areas in which governments have failed to respect human rights and he vowed never to relent in putting authorities on their toes despite threats to his life.