The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is set to investigate cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Executive secretary of the commission, Toby Ojukwu, while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday said an investigative panel has been set up to look into the cases.

Ojukwu said the investigative panel is necessary following the arbitrary arrest of women in Abuja by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the BBC documentary which exposed some lecturers demanding sexual relationships from female students in exchange for grades.

He also made reference to the case of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje who died in 2018 due to complications from an alleged rape by a senior lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic.

“The rising cases of gender-based violence have necessitated the need for a stronger policy and laws to protect the rights of Nigerians especially women and children,” he said.