1.2 Statement of the Problem
Human rights violations are usually associated with conflict. That is why a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, argued that “today’s human rights violations are the causes of tomorrow’s conflicts” (Baehr, Castermans-Holleman, Hoof and Smith, 1998; Bishop, 2001:2). Similarly, Kenny (1997:1) asserted that “human rights violations are a cause, and not merely a consequence of …show more content…
In some situations, the violation of human rights led to the escalation of violence or an inability to deal with it appropriately (Odoemene, 2012). In the Niger Delta of Nigeria, human rights violation has been a feature of both military and civilian regimes. When the military handed over power to civilians after an election in 1999, it was expected that democratic governance will lead to improved government respect for human rights. On the contrary human rights violation persisted. The character of Nigeria’s civilian government since 1999 has raised questions as to whether the form of government in Nigeria is democratic or something else. This contention is pertinent because most findings in earlier human rights research indicate that the governments of democratic countries tend to respect human rights (physical integrity rights) than the governments of countries that are authoritarian (Poe and Tate, 1994; Poe, Tate and Keith, 1999). Proponents of this argument argue that democracy reduces government repression, because democracy empowers the masses. The masses, so empowered, use their capacity to prevent those in power from abusing their human rights (Cingranelli and Richards, …show more content…
For example in November 1999, Odi community in Bayelsa State was invaded by security forces based on the order of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The attack of Odi community by the military resulted in the loss of lives and properties (Environmental Rights Action, 2002). The government repeated a similar action in Odioma community situated in the Brass Local Government of Bayelsa State in February 2005, resulting in gross human rights violation (Courson,