Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The position that effective security can be achieved without violation of the rights of citizens was once again reinforced on Thursday, as stakeholders in the security, justice and human rights business, as well as government institutions in Southeast Nigeria, converged on Enugu, Enugu State for the launch of the Southeast Human Rights Bureau.
The stakeholders are calling for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations and local communities to promote human rights, accountability and the rule of law.
The launch of the Bureau also witnessed the unveiling of an Open-Source Reporting Platform and the training of human rights defenders from the five South-East states, expected to serve as a regional mechanism for documenting human rights violations, supporting victims, promoting accountability and strengthening early warning and response systems.
The event was organized by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), with support from the Ford Foundation.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of the RULAAC, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, described the launch as the fulfilment of a collective vision conceived during the Southeast Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security and Public Hearing on Human Rights Violations held about 17 months ago.
According to him, the Bureau is intended to complement existing institutions by generating credible documentation, facilitating strategic advocacy, promoting dialogue and supporting legal interventions to tackle impunity.
Nwanguma said the newly unveiled Open Source Reporting Platform would provide a secure mechanism for documenting violations, preserving digital evidence, verifying information and supporting data-driven advocacy, while the training programme would equip human rights defenders with the skills needed to monitor and report abuses in line with national and international standards.
He stressed that the Bureau would work collaboratively with governments, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations and communities, insisting that security and human rights are mutually reinforcing rather than conflicting objectives.
“Where necessary, the Bureau will support strategic legal interventions to address patterns of serious human rights violations and institutional impunity. Indeed, as part of this coordinated approach, RULAAC is already leading consultations with lawyers, human rights defenders and partner organisations on a proposed class action on behalf of victims of the notorious Tiger Base.
“That initiative seeks justice and effective remedies for survivors while promoting institutional reforms and ending the culture of impunity.
“It reflects our conviction that credible documentation must lead to meaningful accountability, and that advocacy is most effective when reinforced by strategic legal action,” he said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Very Rev. Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, Professor of Ethics and Intercultural Studies at Godfrey Okoye University, said the initiative was aimed at reversing what he described as a growing culture of disregard for the rule of law.
He observed that rising crime was linked to the weakening implementation of the rule of law and urged participants selected for the training to take their responsibilities seriously if the Bureau was to achieve the desired transformation in the region.
Representing the Ford Foundation, Oumar N’Diaye, in a good will message, congratulated stakeholders who made the initiative possible, describing the rule of law as fundamental to peace and national development.
He expressed confidence that the Bureau would foster collaboration in advancing justice and peace across the South-East, while assuring participants of the Foundation’s continued support for the initiative.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, represented by the Director of the Civil and Political Rights Department, Halilu Adamu, described the establishment of the Bureau as an opportunity to deepen cooperation among public institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and local communities.
He urged the Bureau to uphold the principles of independence, impartiality, professionalism and objectivity, noting that human rights advocacy is most effective when it is evidence-based and rooted in constitutional and international human rights standards.
Adamu also commended the introduction of the Open Source Reporting Platform, saying digital technology had become an indispensable tool for documenting violations, identifying trends and supporting early warning mechanisms.
He, however, cautioned that all allegations must be carefully verified while safeguarding victims’ rights and ensuring fair hearing for all parties.
He reaffirmed the NHRC’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders while maintaining its statutory independence in promoting a human rights culture across Nigeria.
In a goodwill message, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakauche, represented by the Controller of Corrections, Enugu State Command, CC Valins Obizue, described the launch as a significant step towards strengthening the rule of law, protecting human dignity and promoting accountability.
He said the Correctional Service remained committed to the humane treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of persons in custody, adding that reforms under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, had expanded educational and vocational programmes, strengthened staff capacity and promoted non-custodial measures.
While acknowledging that custodial congestion remained a major challenge, he said addressing the problem would require stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, correctional authorities, policymakers and civil society organisations.
Nwakauche pledged the Service’s readiness to partner with the Southeast Human Rights Bureau in promoting respect for the rights of persons in custody, supporting rehabilitation programmes and advancing reforms within the criminal justice system.
In a keynote presentation, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN) described the establishment of the Bureau and the Open Source Reporting Platform as a timely response to growing rights violations.
She noted that communities in the South-East are caught between violent non-state actors and heavy-handed security operations, while also drawing attention to what she described as the “modern slavery” of young girls trafficked under the guise of domestic work and subjected to abuse and exploitation.
The former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, emphasized that respect for human rights should not be viewed as an obstacle to security but as the foundation for lasting peace.
She said regional mechanisms such as the new Human Rights Bureau would bridge the gap between national institutions and local communities, improve access to justice and provide credible evidence for advocacy and institutional reforms.
Unveiling the work of the Bureau, the Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi, said said the Bureau will restore faith in governance because the people will see interventions that speak to their agelong justice demands.
For his part, a researcher with the Amnesty International, Nigeria, Maurice Chukwu lasting peace is built not only through security measures, but through respect for human rights, accountability and the rule of law.
He noted that for many years, Amnesty International has investigated and documented human rights violations across the South-East, and has consistently called for independent investigations, accountability, justice for victims and institutional reform.
“Our message has remained clear: every allegation must be independently investigated, victims deserve justice and impunity must end.
“Amnesty International Nigeria is proud to partner with RULAAC on this important initiative. Together, we will strengthen credible human rights documentation, support human rights defenders and promote accountability in the pursuit of justice and lasting peace.
“We remain committed to working alongside you to ensure that the Southeast Human Rights Bureau becomes a trusted platform for truth, accountability and justice,” he said.
The two-day event has as its theme, “Strengthening human rights, accountability, peace and security in Southeast Nigeria.”
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