NATIONAL NEWS: Human Rights

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is determined to leverage on its collaboration with the UNDP to boost investigation and reportage of alleged human rights violations in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Chief Press Officer of the commission, Fatimah Mohammed.

It said the commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, gave the assurance in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a training workshop the commission organised in conjunction with the UNDP.

The statement quoted Angwe as saying the training was to sharpen the investigation skills of the commission’s officials to properly monitor and report the causes of rights violations in Nigeria.

``Angwe expressed concern about reported cases of wanton killings and destruction of properties in some parts of the country,’’ it said.

The statement also said the UNDP Country Director, Dr Pa-Lamin Beyai, emphasised the need to carry out credible and independent investigation into the various cases of rights violations.

``He said this was in order to unravel and report their root causes,’’ it quoted him as saying.

The statement said the director noted that such investigations would help to resolve accusations and counter-accusations surrounding alleged rights abuses in Nigeria, which he said ``do not augur well for the country’’.

It also said Beyai said the organisation was ready to provide necessary training for the commission’s officials to enable them to proactively and effectively face emerging challenges.(NAN)