National Human Rights Commission Condemns Army’s Invasion of Daily Trust
The National Human Rights Commission NHRC has called on the Nigeria Army to strike a balance between security and human rights at all times.
The Executive Secretary NHRC Tony Ojukwu Esq stated this while condemning the invasion the office of the Media Trust Limited, publishers of the Daily and Sunday Trust by the Nigeria Army.
Ojukwu said although terrorism must never be allowed to continue to destroy the country to the extent that lives and properties of citizens remain endangered, the military must at all times respect international best practices when addressing security challenges bedeviling the country. This according to him will go a long way to ensure the protection of human rights of every one.
He commended the Federal Government’s quick intervention in asking the invading soldiers to retrace their steps. However, “we are demanding the immediate release of the North-East Regional Editor of the Newspaper who is still being held in the custody of the army. We believe that if the Editor has any case to answer he should be taken to the appropriate Court of Law”.
The human rights boss said the role of the media cannot be undermined in any democracy as they remain the Gate Keepers. He however advised Journalists to observe caution as they exercise their right to freedom of expression, adding that the freedom of expression is not absolute at all times.
