The Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers & Advocates (COPA), a  Human Rights, pro-democracy, and good governance advocacy group has called for immediate action on human rights protection in the country.

Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, Convener of the group, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen on the need to have an egalitarian society where the lives of citizens are paramount.

Olajengbesi said as a democratic nation, state actors including the police, DSS and the military ought to be seen to be protecting lives and not the other way round.

He said more efforts should be made to protect Nigerians especially now that armed bandits and insurgents have wreaked havoc in most parts of the country.

“Over the past few months, incidences of Human Rights abuses by agents of the state have been on an alarming increase as there appears to be an institutionalization of the culture of impunity in human rights violations.

“In the course of our duty as Public Interest Advocates and Human Rights Lawyers, we have taken cognizance of a number of sordid cases of the violation of fundamental human rights by agents of state across Nigeria in recent times.

“What is much more disheartening is that these agents of the state have arrogated to themselves the toga of untouchables, thereby allegedly flouting court orders as if they were above the Law,” Olajengbesi said.

He urged the authorities to find lasting solutions to the incessant human rights abuses in the country.

This, Olajengbesi said would strengthen democracy and also make the International Community accord the country the respect it deserved.