Dapchi attack: CDHR condemns abduction, calls for restructuring of Nigeria

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called for the restructuring of Nigeria, describing it as a trite demand which “requires all the will and commitment necessary.”

The civil rights organisation acknowledged what, it said, was the crucial need to review the structure of the Nigerian state, its governance and political process.

While condemning the abduction of 110 female students of the Government Science Technical School, Dabchi in Yobe State by Boko Haram militants, the CDHR said it was “a direct violation of their right to education and all other rights provided under the Child Rights Act.”

The resolutions, according to a communique issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of CDHR, Peter Ekine, were taken after its National Executive Committee meeting held on Saturday in Lagos.

He said, “The NEC acknowledged the crucial need to review the structure of the Nigerian state, its governance and political process. As an ideal federal state, it is apparent that political power is heavily concentrated at the centre. The NEC therefore considered the aspirations of Nigerians for restructuring and CDHR agreed that the call for restructuring is trite and requires all the will and commitment necessary.

“The NEC also commiserated with the families of all the victims of insurgency in the North-East. NEC, on behalf of CDHR, urged the security agencies to step up their activities and ensure the safe rescue of all the girls and all citizens in captivity of the insurgents; let “Dapchi Girls” not turn to another “Chibok girls”!

“The NEC also condemned all cases of extrajudicial killings by state agents in different parts of the country, particularly the recent cases in Edo and Rivers States. NEC condoled with the families of the victims.

“The NEC condemned the senseless murder of four UN aid workers in Rann, Borno State, North-East Nigeria, on Friday, March 2, 2018. The NEC also condemned the abduction of one of the aid workers who is critically ill at the moment. The NEC commiserated with the United Nations and the families of the murdered and kidnapped workers. The NEC was certainly disturbed about the effect this could have on humanitarian services to displaced persons.”