NHRC decries gradual return of death penalty
06 March 2025 |
3:36 am
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over the increasing push for the death penalty in Nigeria, warning that the measure could be counter-productive in addressing crime and human rights violations.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over the increasing push for the death penalty in Nigeria, warning that the measure could be counter-productive in addressing crime and human rights violations.
Presenting the NHRC’s February 2025 human rights dashboard, Human Rights Adviser, Hillary Ogbonna, observed that while the country continues to grapple with mass killings, abductions, and other violent crimes, the growing trend of prescribing capital punishment as a solution was troubling.
According to the report, last month saw a surge in human rights violations, with 191 killings, 144 kidnappings, 1,493 cases of child abandonment, and 341 rape incidents.
Reports of suicide and cultism also rose, while law enforcement-related complaints remained the highest category of grievances received.
He cited the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Prohibition Law 2025, Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, and the proposed death penalty for drug-related offences by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as examples.
“The NHRC urges authorities to rethink this approach. Ascribing the death penalty to crimes may appear to be a strong deterrent, but history and global trends have shown it to be ineffective in curbing criminal activities,” Ogbonna said.
He argued that rather than resorting to capital punishment, the government should focus on strengthening law enforcement, ensuring fair trials, and addressing the socio-economic factors driving crime.
He also called for reforms to prevent extra-judicial killings, protect women’s rights – particularly in cases of spouse abandonment, which topped the complaints list at 6,954 cases – and improve overall human rights protection in the country.
The NHRC reiterated its stance against the death penalty, emphasising that a rights-based approach to justice and security would yield more sustainable solutions in tackling the nation’s deepening human rights crisis.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the commission’s Executive Secretary, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), expressed deep concern over the persistent rise in human rights violations across the federation, particularly those involving state actors.
Ojukwu disclosed that the commission received a staggering 205,364 complaints in February alone, underscoring the gravity of human rights challenges in the country.
He lamented that despite ongoing advocacy, security agencies continue to top the list of violators, raising serious questions about accountability in law enforcement.
The NHRC expressed appreciation to partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), for their continued support in advancing human rights in Nigeria.
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