There are many reasons for this. First, there is an international dimension to its assignment which the Commission must give serious attention to.
Human rights are now global issues.
Their violation in any one country becomes a concern of many countries and groups across the global. And there had been gross abuses in Nigeria in the recent past, especially during the five years reign of the late General Abacha, leading to the. ostracisation of the country by the international community. Understandably, therefore, the international community is now all eyes to see how the Oputa Commission deals with that recent past. It is hardly any consolation for the countless victims, but certainly Abacha s murderous reign helped to popularise issues of human rights, and to fuel concerns in the country for their protection. And along with this popularisation came a proliferation's of rights groups in Nigeria.