All is now set for public hearing on alleged killings of persons including the aged and children in Tarok Communities of Plateau State by officers and men of the Nigerian army.
The Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) considered the interim report on the alleged killing during its 2nd (2015) statutory council meeting held in Makurdi and authorized the setting up of a panel of inquiry to investigate the matter and make appropriate recommendations for its consideration.
In a Communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, council disassociated the Commission from the panel of inquiry on political killings set up by the River State Government stating that “The nomination and participation of professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu in the Commission of inquiry into political killings in River State were on his personal merit; and not in his official capacity as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission.
Council therefore assured Nigerians and the people of River state in particular that the Commission will continue to exercise statutory mandate and responsibilities in an independent and impartial manner, as the commission was established by law to promote, protect and enforce human rights of all persons in Nigeria without distinction to race, ethnicity, religion, class or political opinion.
On the improvement of the country’s electoral process, Council commended former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, President Mohammadu Buhari and the INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega for exhibiting leadership, character and integrity during the elections. It however called for expeditious and fair disposal of electoral disputes by the various elections petition Tribunals.
