Insecurity: Stop shielding criminals, Human Rights Commission warn communities

By Golok Nanmwa,Jos

North Central Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Grace Pam on Thursday said it is unconstitutional for communities to shield criminals who unleash terror, havoc and killed innocent citizens in the society.

She admonished Nigerians to stop shielding criminals in the name of religion and ethnicity saying that it has been a clog in the wheel of fight against insecurity in the country.

Mrs. Pam disclosed this on Tuesday in Jos during a sensitization for women Groups and citizens in North Central, organized by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with Transparency International and Global Affairs Canada, held in Jos, Plateau state.

“There are reported cases of how communities in the country shield and protect criminals who have unleashed terror, attacked and killed innocent members of the society.

“Communities must stop aiding criminalities in the name of religion, ethnicity or any form of affiliation to enable Nigeria come out of the daily increasing security challenges that has dented the image of the country.”

Mrs Pam lamented that the commission have been confronted with convincing facts by security agencies on how commmunities shield and aid criminals due to religion and ethnic affiliations.

She said the commission would ensure the arrest and prosecution of those who violates minors through rape, child labour and any form of maltreatment against housemaids and other children in the society.

A 62-year-old market woman, Tabitha Ali Dayuru, cautioned women against bearing children beyond their financial strength and advised them to resist any attempt by men to enforce child bearing that is detrimental to their existence.

“I see on daily basis heavy pregnant women in the market carrying yam on their heads with children trapped on their back. I consider that as child labour against the unborn children. Men should also stop marrying many wives that they cannot take care of them because the children are given birth becomes a breeding ground for insecurity in the country.”

She also called on citizens to fight against misappropriation ,corruption and squandering of public funds

If we all know our rights and response as citizens of Nigeria ,things will get better ,we have the burden of building our nation ,we all know that we as a nation have our challenges but Nation building must be emphasized in our country.

The Advocacy and Legal Advise Officer of Civil Society Legislative Advicacy Centre (CISLAC) Abuja, Bathsheba Tagwai said the senitization programme is aimed at equipping women in the North Central to know their rights and responsibility on the fight against corruption.

She said the programme would be carry out in all the six geopolitical zones of the country with a view to enable citizens know their rights for a healthy and crime free society.

Assistant Commissioner Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Clement Adebayo Obaniyi, presented a paper titled “The Role of citizens, especially women and the ICPC in the fight against corruption” said lack of accessible and affordable health care service delivery for women and children in the country is considered as corruption because their fundamental human rights have been denied.

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Insecurity: Stop shielding criminals, Human Rights Commission warn communities