Rivers crisis: NHRC investigates Amaechi’s petition

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi
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The National Human Rights Commission has commenced investigations into a petition sent to it by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over alleged abuse of human rights in the state.

A source at the Commission informed our correspondent that the investigation commenced after the receipt of the petition, which was dated October 1, 2013.

“The Commission has commenced investigation into the petition, which raised serious rights violation issues,” the source said, adding that the NHRC was constitutionally empowered to undertake the action.

Director of Public Affairs and Communication in the NHRC, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the development.

Amaechi had in the petition alleged that abuse of human rights in the Rivers State had affected him, as well as the people of the state.

The governor blamed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, for the alleged violation of human rights and urged the NHRC to ascertain whether the CP was fit to hold the office.

Amaechi, in the petition, said, “There are ongoing human rights violations in Rivers State falling within the investigative and other duties of the National Human Rights Commission.

“Abuses, which need the independent and human rights competences and capabilities of the National Human Rights Commission as ably demonstrated in your ground breaking engagement of the Baga incident and the situation in North-East Nigeria bears many striking resemblances to the situation in Rivers State.”

The governor therefore asked the NHRC to urgently investigate and ascertain whether the Rivers State police commissioner was still fit and proper to superintend the police formation of a sensitive state with a complex human rights dynamics.