The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday said it recorded no fewer than 287 human rights violations in Gombe State between January and June. 

The commission’s state coordinator, Joseph Wanshe, stated this in an interview in Gombe.

Mr Wanshe said out of the 287 cases received, 215 consisted of women and children’s rights violations, domestic violence, rape, and inhuman treatment.

He said 43 were cases of civil and political rights violations; 23 were economic, social and cultural rights violations, while six were environmental rights violations.

Mr Wanshe stated that, however, about 230 of the 287 complaints received had been effectively resolved through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Although the 230 complaints have been resolved, he said continued supervision and proper monitoring are necessary to ensure the involved parties comply with the terms of the agreement.

The coordinator noted an increase in the number of complaints received compared with previous years, as a result of intensified sensitisation across the state.

He said the Gombe office underwent internal restructuring, including the creation of departments to oversee different types of violations. 

“We have had over 50 sensitisation programmes in the last six months, particularly on radio stations, school visits on human rights sensitisation, television programmes, organisations and market visits to address them. 

“We had internal re-engineering, reorganising and restructuring. 

‘’We created departments for research, sensitisation and promotion of human rights awareness and that of public outreach and monitoring,” Mr Wanshe said.

He acknowledged the support from state government agencies and the civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders. 

He also appreciated the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency for its cooperation, especially in the health and education sectors.

Mr Wanshe called on residents to sustain the culture of reporting abuses to the commission for effective treatment, adding that “Cases reported to the commission are treated without any fee.’’

In 2025, 285 complaints were reported; in the first half of 2026, 287 were received, marking a significant increase in efforts to tackle human rights abuses in the state.

 (NAN)