The Human Rights Special Intervention Group in Kogi says it has concluded plans to hold a public hearing on human rights violations in the state.

The Kogi government constituted the committee through the office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission.

A statement by the Director General of PDCRC, Abdullahi Zakari, in Lokoja on Thursday said the public hearing would hold at the Nigerian Bar Association Secretariat, Lokoja.

Mr. Zakari urged petitioners to attend the public hearing to explain their petitions, adding that all critical stakeholders in the criminal justice sector were also invited.

“It may be recalled that the Kogi state government has renewed its vigour to address the issue of brutalities and human rights abuse by law enforcement agencies in the state.

“The state government, through the office of the PDCRC, constituted Human Rights Special Intervention Group (HRSIG) to receive and rapidly resolve complaints of brutalities by law enforcement officials such as SARS, police, and others,” the statement noted.

It added that complaints of illegal arrest, wrongful detention, and any violations of Kogi residents’ human rights should be reported to the committee.

“The committee received some complaints and open to more complaints from residents of the state and the general public with such complaints.

“There is the need to speak out generally on all human rights violations in the state. At the PDCRC, promotion, protection, and enforcement of human rights of residents of Kogi State is a key responsibility,” said the statement.

The public hearing will hold on March 16.

(NAN)