The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the recent brutality and violence in the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Joe Ajero, in Owerri, Imo state capital.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu (SAN) stated this while reacting to the reported assault of Mr Ajero said, it is a reprehensible act, a flagrant violation of human rights and an affront to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
The NHRC boss said, “brutality on Mr. Joe Ajero, a senior labour leader, represents impunity and a direct attack on the fundamental rights of individuals to associate and express their views and opinions freely, which is the cornerstone of a democratic society like ours.”
According to Ojukwu, the Commission reiterates that in a democratic nation like Nigeria, the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression must be respected and upheld, no matter how uncomfortable law enforcement agents feel.
In a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of the NHRC, Mrs.Agharese Arase said that Ojukwu called on relevant authorities to swiftly investigate the ugly incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure that such acts of brutality are neither repeated nor tolerated.
“It is essential that those responsible for this brutality are held accountable for their actions, serving as a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in our Society”.
The Chief Human Rights Officer said it is unethical to use force and violence to arrest unarmed civilians, adding that this brutal act is against international best practices for the promotion and protection of human rights.
He said the Commission reiterate its commitment to upholding human rights, protecting freedom of expression, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals in the country.
Ojukwu, according to the statement, called on law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and uphold the principles of democracy and respect for human rights when dealing with unarmed civilians while enforcing law and order.
“Together, we can build a society where every citizen’s rights and freedoms are safeguarded, respected and tolerated, where acts of violence and intimidation have no place”, he said.
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