By Abdulwahab abdulah
A petition has been sent to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, asking her to urgently facilitate the holding of a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Jos, Plateau State.

The petition signed by Mr. Femi Falana, counsel to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, a leading rights organisation, said the holding of a special session on Jos would contribute to a speedy end to the human rights crisis and violence in  Pateau State.

In a statement by SERAP Executive Director, Tokunbo Mumuni, the group urged the international community to strive to deliver justice to victims of human rights violations wherever they occur and ensure that those found guilty of such crimes are held accountable for their actions.

It said: “The holding of a special session on Jos will be consistent with the practice of the Human Rights Council regarding its previous special sessions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories; Lebanon; Darfur; Myanmar; the Democratic Republic of Congo; the Global Food Crisis and the Global Economic and Financial Crises.”

It also prayed the Commission to prevail on the government to provide restitution, compensation or both, as warranted, for damages resulting from the serious violations of the human rights of the people.

It also said , it believes that it is the failure of the Nigerian Government to exercise due diligence that have resulted in the violations of human rights of citizens in Jos, which entails Nigerian Government to undertake measures to prevent abuses by state and non_state actors where possible.

It added: “The Government of Nigeria has international legal obligations to respect the right to life; the right to security of the person; the right to freedom of residence; including not to be forcibly displaced; the right to property; the right to adequate housing; the right to adequate food and the right to water; and freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment. All of these internationally recognized human rights have been repeatedly violated in Jos on a widespread scale.”