Even as new reports from international human rights groups document a pattern of major offenses against human rights by both extremists and government security forces in northern Nigeria, Search for Common Ground in partnership with the Bauchi Human Rights Network on Thursday launched a programme to campaign against right abuses by security forces in the North.

Presenting the opening remarks at the event tagged ‘Constructing Coalitions To Reduce Human Rights Abuses By Security Forces In Northern Nigeria’, the Chairman of the occasion and Coordinator of the Bauchi State chapter of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Hanbal Muhammed Zubair said the project is apt given the current wave of violence and rights abuses in Northern Nigeria.

Tracing the origin of respect for individual rights to the origin of the world where according to him, God allowed His creatures to express themselves as free moral agents; Mr Zubair said the protection of Human rights is fundamental in every society.

“I can talk because I have a mouth; I can see because I have eyes; therefore, these are my basic rights and the authority must help me to enforce these rights,” he said.

He insisted that the foundation of the newly established coalition must be on the rule of law and that members of the group must act as vigilantes for justice.

Explaining the reasons Search for Common Ground (SFCG) decided to embark on the programme, the Country Director of the international non-profit organization, Chom Bagu said the interest on the projects stems from the organization’s interest in using the non-adversarial approach in the peacebuilding process.

“Instead of the adversarial approach to conflict management, Search for Common Ground attempts to create a platform for dialogue,” he told the audience made up of representatives of the state government, security forces, civil society organizations, the media and general public.

Mr Bagu said SFCG has used the non-adversarial approach in assisting communities in the Niger Delta Regions with phenomenal success.

He said though SFCG is an international organization, it will identify and work with local Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Bauchi state to implement the 18 months project which according to him would attempt to educate the security forces, CSO and the public on the enforcement of fundamental Human Rights.

The Country Director said although the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) is the government established organization responsible for the enforcement of human rights in Nigeria, it however cannot be everywhere in the country. He said this shortfall informed the need for CSO to work with the commission in ensuring the enforcement of human rights everywhere in Nigeria.

The Project Manager, Lantana Abdullahi unveiled the programme’s direction and activities to the audience. According to her, the activities of the programme would include workshops, radio programming, capacity building and training for both the security forces and CSO, and Peace Architecture Dialogues.

Mrs Abdullahi said SFCG would partner with the Bauchi Human Rights Network (BAHRN) in conducting the baseline research for the programme and in monitoring and reporting rights abuses in the state. According to her, these reports and other findings will be documented in what she termed the ‘Human Rights Guidebook.’

A plenary session followed the project manager’s presentation. During the plenary, the audience expressed their gratitude and concerns towards the programme.

The Bauchi Commissioner of Police who was represented by the Deputy Commission, Administration, ASP Charles Chima said the force appreciated the initiative and would cooperate with SFCG in the training and retraining of its personnel.

Other participants including the representatives of the Bauchi State commands of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC); Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), Nigerian Prison Services; and Nigerian Peace Corps suggested that SFCG should focus on the issues of leadership in Nigerian politics and security outfits.

Other suggestions from the participants included that SFCG should extend their operations to crisis riddled states in the North East – Yobe and Borno; that a Human Right clubs should be established in secondary schools to educate youth on their rights; that conflict vulnerable communities like Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area should be part of the project’s focal areas.

The Constructing Coalitions To Reduce Human Rights Abuses By Security Forces In Northern Nigeria is a programme funded by the US State Department and is implemented by SFCG in partnership with the BAHRN.

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