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NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
By: Michael Mike
The Executive Director of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu has called on young people not to allow themselves to be used as ‘cannon fodders’ to incite and deepen hatred in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja at the special event to mark the 2024 International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Ojukwu said: “Sensitising and mobilising young people to combat hate speech is crucial in today’s world, where they are not only the target but also influential voices in their communities.”
He noted that young people who are more in Nigeria should guard against breaking the bond of the country and as such “should not allow themselves to be used as ‘cannon fodders’ to incite and deepen hatred in Nigeria.”
He added that: “Coincidentally, youths form the bedrock of our nation, and this demographic divide should at all times be mobilised for the social and economic development of our dear nation.”
He revealed that the NHRC working with the UN System in Nigeria, youth leaders and other stakeholders will use this commemorative event to create awareness, foster partnerships, and promote strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.
He noted that: “This event which is jointly organised by the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations in Nigeria in pursuance of their unique mandates to promote and protect human and in recognition of the roles of youth in nation building as well as serving as natural agents in the promotion of values etched in human rights in the spirit of Chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Ojukwu said: “Hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome. From the purveyor, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief. To the recipient, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.
“Hate speeches promote discrimination, divisions, incites violence, all of which impedes voters’ participation and access in the elections.”
On his part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mohamed Fall said the United Nations considers hate speech as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.
Fall who was represented the Culture Programme Specialist, UNESCO Abuja Office, Mr. Philippe Delanghe said: “Hate speech contradicts all the values and principles enshrined in international human rights law. It also undermines efforts to achieve the aim of 2030 Agenda and its SDGs to leave no one behind, as it often targets the most vulnerable in our societies and minorities.”
He warned that: “If left unchecked, hate speech can harm peace and development, lay the ground for conflicts and tensions, undermine social cohesion, and contribute to wide scale human rights violations and atrocity crimes.”
He added that: “The devastating effect of hatred is not new. However, new technologies of communication has amplified the scale and impact of hate speech. Social media and the internet are now the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale.
“This brings me to the theme of this year, the power of youth to address and combat hate speech. Young people are often most affected by hate speech, particularly online as such young people must be part of the solution, your role in creating public and online spaces that are free from hate speech cannot be underestimated.
“The world must not tramp on freedom of speech and expression, but when speech is used to violate the rights of others it must not be met with silence. Silence implies apathy and even acceptance.”
He revealed that: “At the UN in Nigeria, we are working with multiple stakeholders to promote tolerance. UNESCO is leading the way through its efforts to promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL). We are also currently developing a UN wide Hate Speech Strategy. We count on your support in ensuring the strategy will be translated into effective action.”
He stated that: “As we celebrate a culture of tolerance today, I urge all of us including the government, traditional and faith leaders, civil society, young people, individuals, toincrease our efforts to counter hate speech in line with international human rights law.
“As the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has said: “Hatred is a danger to everyone – and so fighting it must be a job for everyone.”
NHRC Tells Youth, “Don’t Allow Yourselves Used As Canon Fodders to Deepen Hatred in Nigeria”
NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has arrested four suspected vandals in Dabi Bako area of the Kwali Area Council, Abuja.
The arrest was made during a routine patrol of the anti vandal team of the Command where one of the suspects was caught vandalizing armoured cables at the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), small Sheda, Kwali, kwali Area council, Abuja.
Upon interrogation, the suspect made useful confessions that led to the arrest of three (3) other accomplices and the recovery of more stolen armoured cables already on its way to the market.
The suspects are:
Amodu Lawal, 20 years, male, Katsina
Zaki Idris, 32 years, male, Kano
Suleiman Yunusa, 25 years, male, Kano
Isa Abdulrazak, 38 years, male, Kano
Further investigation is ongoing, thereafter the suspects would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the NSCDC ACT which empowers the Corps to arrests, detain and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the Federation (NSCDC Act Section 3:1f).
In the same vein, the men of the Anti- Vandal unit of the Command while on patrol in Abaji Area Council discovered an Ak47 rifle without its magazine attached in a farmland.
According to the farm owner who alerted the men on patrol, the riffle was discovered by him in his maize farm upon his arrival early in the morning at about 7am to work on his farm.
The said rifle have been recovered and taken to the Command’s headquarters for safe keeping and further investigation to unravel the ownership and source of the rifle.
The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu commended the command’s anti vandal team for their gallantry and commitment to the protection of critical infrastructure as well as safety of the FCT residents in general.
He charged them not to rest on their oars but to redouble their efforts towards ensuring total eradication of vandals by effecting more arrest of these criminal elements destroying public utilities.
He assured FCT residents of the Corps commitment to their safety and the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure which is already yielding positive results.
“We want to assure all residents of the FCT that we will not rest on our oars, we are determined to keep you safe and ensure the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in the FCT” the commandant said.
Dr Odumosu praised the farm owner for alerting the operatives on patrol upon his discovery of the rifle and not keeping it to himself for sinister motives.
He advised other citizens to emulate the patriotic spirit exhibited by the farm owner by reporting promptly any incident of crime or suspicious movement or activities in their environment to security agencies nearest to them.
NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE
Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has commissioned a new fire station donated by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson to the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in Bayelsa State.
The fire station is based in Toru Orua, a community located in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Tunji-Ojo, who praised the senator’s gesture, noted that the new facility would enhance the agency’s ability to respond to fire incidents in the state.
He said: “It takes an exposed mind, a visionary personality to understand what is happening here today. With this, you are making this place a hub for the industrial revolution that will happen in the Niger-Delta.
“This is the first time I am seeing this exemplary initiative from a senator, and it shows that you understand that fire service is not just about fire as they are the first responders in any emergency situations. On behalf of the father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thank you for being a pacesetter and hoisting the flag of greatness and development in the Niger-Delta region.”
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, expressed his gratitude to Senator Seriake Dickson for donating a new fire station to the agency. “I thank His Excellency, the former governor of Bayelsa State, and current Senator representing Bayelsa West for this edifice,” Jaji said.
“I appreciate him for considering the building of a Fire Service station as his constituency project. With his collaboration, I am delighted that we now have this facility ready for operation.”
Speaking on the role of the fire service in response and rescue operations, Dickson called on lawmakers at both state and national levels to prioritize fire safety and consider building fire response capacities from their constituency allocations.
He said: “I use this medium to call on all our leaders in the country, our legislators at both state and national levels to consider seriously the issue of fire safety. The government cannot have the resources on their own to build the fire response capacity that our great country needs. I, hereby, call for support for the fire service.
“While we all agree that it is very important that we support security outfits, we don’t sometimes remember the critical role that the fire service that should be at the forefront of response and rescue operations needs to be. I want to call on legislators to think of building fire response capacities from their constituency allocations. I believe this will assist the service to deliver better on their mandate.”
Dickson assured the Minister of his support in the Senate for the reforms being implemented under the ministry.
The newly commissioned fire station is equipped with modern firefighting equipment and vehicles, and is expected to improve the overall firefighting capacity in the state.
Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa
Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu
By: Our Reporter
The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, stresses his commitment to ensuring security and safety in the state and emphasizes collective responsibility from all members of the communities in Damaturu to ensure success in crime fighting in the state.
The police commissioner further encourages the people to do their part by establishing local measures in their communities and houses against hoodlums around and informing the police of criminal hideouts, suspicious movements, and likely perpetrators crimes.
A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Dungus Abdul Karim on Thursday said the command is encouraging members of the communities to report complaints or addressing them in writing to the nearest police station or visiting the command headquarters.
The statement said the command has intercepted a circulating viral message on some of the social media from a unanimous source with the caption:
RE: URGENT APPEAL FOR ACTION AGAINST RAMPANT ROBBERY INCIDENTS IN DAMATURU.”
“We wish to inform the public that during the period under review, there were no recorded incidents of robbery at any of the three Divisional Police Headquarters, Area Command Office, or tactical units within Damaturu metropolis.
“However, minor criminal activities like house trespass, burglary, and theft occurred in a few residential areas, which the command has marked for attention and designed strategies to curb in the nearest future.
“These crimes often result from residents’ neglect of security consciousness, allowing easy access to hoodlums in their surroundings.
“Our records show that most perpetrators are either residents or led by syndicate members from other areas.
“To set the record straight, robbery involves the use of force or arms and direct engagement with the person or dwelling, which is not the case in these incidents.” The statement added.
Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu
NSCDC FCT COMMAND ARRESTS SUSPECTED VANDALS, RECOVERS AK47 RIFLE
Interior Minister Commissions New Fire Station in Bayelsa
Police stresses commitments on security and safety in Damaturu
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