The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Oyo State says it received more than 100 human rights complaints in the first six months of the year, with gender-based violence (GBV) and child rights violations accounting for the highest number of reported cases.
The Head of Investigation at the commission’s Oyo State office, Mrs. Olamide Akintayo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan.
According to her, cases involving child abuse, sexual violence, defilement and denial of child maintenance dominated the complaints received during the period.
“The highest percentage relates to gender-based violence and child rights violations such as child abuse, sexual violence, defilement and denial of maintenance. These remain the most prevalent,” she said.
Akintayo added that the commission also handled complaints bordering on unlawful arrest and detention, misconduct by law enforcement officers, labor disputes, discrimination, landlord-tenant conflicts involving assault, and violations of the rights of vulnerable groups.
She attributed the rising number of complaints to increased public awareness of the commission’s mandate and growing confidence in its ability to deliver justice.
“The increasing number of complaints demonstrates that the public is becoming more aware and is gaining confidence to approach the NHRC to seek justice,” she said.
Explaining the commission’s approach to handling complaints, Akintayo said every petition is carefully assessed, documented, and investigated before the respondent is invited to respond.
She noted that mediation is adopted where appropriate, while criminal matters or cases that cannot be resolved amicably are referred to the relevant authorities for prosecution, with the commission closely monitoring proceedings.
According to her, the NHRC works closely with law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women Affairs, correctional institutions and civil society organizations to ensure victims obtain justice.
She said many family disputes, child maintenance cases, labor disagreements and landlord-tenant conflicts had been successfully resolved through mediation, while sexual and gender-based violence cases were referred for prosecution.
On preventive measures, Akintayo said the commission has intensified public enlightenment and advocacy through strategic partnerships, regular sensitization campaigns, capacity-building programs for civil society organizations and security agencies, as well as awareness initiatives on gender-based violence and child protection.
She added that the commission also conducts school sensitization programs and community outreach activities, and participates in the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to promote human rights awareness.
Akintayo urged residents to speak up against human rights abuses rather than suffer in silence, stressing that safeguarding human dignity, justice, equality and the rule of law is a shared responsibility.
