A Port Harcourt-based non-governmental organisation, Centre
for Environmental Human Rights and Development (CERHD) has blamed the
proliferation of small arms in Nigeria on bad leadership and unequal
distribution of power.

The Director of programme of the organisation, Mr Steven
Obodoekwe who said this during the presentation of the group’s annual report in
Port Harcourt, also said that the Niger Delta had in the past one year
witnessed series of right abuses by both the security agencies and criminal
groups.

He said that, this situation had led to series of
kidnappings, extra judicial killings and sometime detention without trials.

Mr. Obodoekwe said that the Centre had intervened in
twenty-one cases of abuses including child defilement, but regretted that the
authorities had continued to watch helplessly while the situation continued.

“It is unfortunate to note that these problems have
continued to rear their ugly heads, while the government has shown no serious
commitment towards tackling the problems” he said.

He said that the centre since inception in 1999, had carried
out series of activities in the Niger Delta region, stressing that the
activities of the organisation have within last year covered environment and
conservation programme and human rights which involved advocacy and litigation,
while special programmes under election monitoring activities were carried out.

Mr Obodoekwe also said that human rights works were compiled
and documented in CEHRD publication, called Score card, while the activities of
2011 including the human rights activities were documented in the 2011 annual
report.