NHRC in Gombe receives 130 complaints in 6 months
By Matthew Eloyi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Gombe, says it received no fewer than 130 complaints of alleged human rights violations between January and June 2023.
The NHRC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ali Alola-Alfinti, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.
Alola-Alfinti said that, out of the 130 cases of human rights violations received, 53 were inhuman or degrading treatment.
He said 48 were cases of child abandonment, while 11 were deprivation of the right to economic development by spouses and family.
Others, he said, included three threats to life, nine denials of property and one rape case, among others.
Alola-Alfinti said that, however, out of the 130 complaints received, more than 100 had been resolved, though with continued supervision and proper monitoring to ensure compliance with all terms of agreement by all parties involved.
“Also, 17 cases are undergoing process of mediation, others are in court while those with elements of criminality have been referred to the police for proper investigation and prosecution,” he said.
The NHRC Gombe spokesperson said that the increasing cases of child abandonment had become a cause for concern for the commission.
Read Also: Gov. Yahaya Urges Corps Members To Integrate With Host Communities
“This is why we have embarked on sensitisation to key stakeholders to help curb this ugly trend.
“We noticed that poverty and lack of commitment by fathers are major reasons for child abandonment in the state.
“Child abandonment is a violation of human rights; when you abandon a child who cannot take care of himself or herself, they are left at the mercy of anyone and that situation is better imagined than experienced,” Alola-Alfinti added.
According to him, a lack of knowledge of the rights of children has made many parents and guardians abuse and treat their children in a manner that amounts to a violation of the laws.
He said that parents ought to know that children had rights as enshrined in the constitution and such rights included their welfare, wellbeing and their education.
Alola-Alfinti advised stakeholders in the state to carry out more sensitisation to discourage the trend of child abandonment given its psychological impact on children and their rights to good life.
NHRC in Gombe receives 130 complaints in 6 months
