Human and Community Rights Centre (HCRC) Blog

  PRESS STATEMENT HUMAN AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS CENTER (HCRC) DATE: 31st March, 2026 RE: CONDEMNATION OF THE RECENT KILLINGS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE The Human and Community Rights Center (HCRC) strongly condemns in the clearest possible terms the recent wave of brutal killings in Jos, which have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives and left many families in anguish. These senseless and barbaric attacks are a grave violation of the fundamental right to life as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory. HCRC is deeply concerned about the recurring nature of violence in Plateau State and the apparent inability of relevant authorities to put an end to these persistent attacks. The continued loss of lives in such circumstances raises serious questions about the adequacy of existing security measures and the protection of vulnerable communities. We therefor...

  PRESS RELEASE HUMAN AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS CENTRE (HCRC) March 22, 2026 HCRC CONDEMNS IN STRONG TERMS THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT OZORO FESTIVAL The Human and Community Rights Centre (HCRC) expresses its deepest outrage and unequivocal condemnation of the disturbing acts of sexual violence reportedly perpetrated against women during a recent festival in Ozoro, Delta State. No society that claims to uphold justice, dignity, and humanity can tolerate the brutalization, humiliation, and violation of women under any guise whatsoever. The reported incidents—where women were allegedly harassed, stripped, assaulted, and dehumanized in public—represent a grave assault not only on the victims but on the collective conscience of our nation. Let it be made unequivocally clear: there is no cultural, traditional, or social justification for sexual violence. Any practice or gathering that enables or excuses such acts is not culture—it is criminality in its most reprehensible form. These acts constitu...

  Stakeholders from the South-East region — including traditional rulers, human rights advocates, legal practitioners, and representatives of civil society and non-governmental organisations — were reportedly moved to tears during a public presentation detailing alleged human rights violations by a police unit in Imo State. The report, presented in Enugu by Amnesty International, detailed allegations of torture, rape, prolonged detention without trial, and extrajudicial killings at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Owerri, popularly known as 'Tiger Base.' The unit operates under the Imo State Command. Titled “Tiger Base of Atrocities: Human Rights Violations by Nigeria Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri,” the report covered investigations conducted between May 2025 and February 2026. It was presented by Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi. According to the report, officers attached to the unit allegedly engaged in prolonged arbitrary de...

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called upon the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, to revitalise the dormant Human Rights Desks across police commands nationwide. The association further urged the IGP to confront the deeply entrenched issues of corruption, impunity, and unprofessional conduct within the Nigeria Police Force. It emphasised that meaningful reform would require more than public assurances and rhetorical commitments. HURIWA advised the new police chief to take decisive and practical steps to address internal divisions within the Force and to restore public confidence, which it noted had been severely eroded by misconduct and criminal behaviour attributed to certain officers. The group also recommended an overhaul of police barracks and stations throughout the country, advocating for the development of modern and hygienic facilities to ensure that officers operate in decent and professional working environments.