The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it will investigate all genuine cases of sharp practices at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, disclosed this on Thursday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, at a two-day interface with the government agencies with protection mandate in the state.
Mr Ojukwu assured that the commission would act on any genuine report on short changing IDPs in the distribution of food and other relief items.
However, he said the commission would rely on genuine information from the humanitarian actors to address such complaints.
The executive secretary commended the police for their response to allegations on short changing the IDPs as they sanction perpetrators.
“We will stop at nothing to ensure that violators of children and gender rights in IDP camps do not elude sanctions.
“Those who short change IDPs in the distribution of food and medical items must not go unpunished.
“If some persons cheat on IDPs and we look the other way, we don’t know the next people that will become IDPs.
“I must commend the Nigerian Police for ensuring they respond fast on allegations of violation of IDPs rights, they do achieve this by constituting an investigation panel that could uncover perpetrators of such acts,’’Mr Ojukwu said.
He said the interface with humanitarian actors was to enable the commission create a platform where other actors in humanitarian activities share information of mutual interest.
He said the platform would also create an opportunity for the protection actors to discuss ways forward in dealing with protection and humanitarian issues as relate to the protection action groups.
Besides, he said the meeting would enable protection actors to identify potentials and areas of future collaborations that would improve on the system and communities.
Mr Ojukwu suggested the introduction of social media platform that could enable stakeholders to interact and share ideas without necessary meeting physically.
He commended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the robust partnership.
