displaced persons. Beyond shelter, food and other necessities of life, the victims and survivors of these situations equally deserve reassurance, truth and justice, They also deserve reconstruction of their destroyed communities and other palliatives to enable them resume peaceful co existence. While government efforts in this regard are commendable, there is room for improvement and the Nigerian government is been encouraged by the National Human Rights Commission to improve on existing structures. In addition to assurances of justice to the victims of violent conflicts, government is encouraged to upscale "security, political, human development, economic and investment incentives" necessary for reconstituting inter-community life of affected communities. Such efforts must address the relationships between government at federal, state and local government levels on the one hand and communities on the other. The roles and limitations of Judicial Commissions of Inquiry as well as how to sequence the measures proposed and enlist community support for them strengthened. CHALLENGES The quest to gain and continue perpetuation of political power by some group of people, like in Benue, Plateau, Rivers and Delta States often leads to conflict and degenerates into violence. This is mostly triggered when elections are not free and fair thereby truncating the wishes of the minorities who feel perpetually marginalized through political intimidation and harassment. ROLE OF STATE INSTITUTIONS The National Human Rights Commission has been deeply concerned and as such taken steps to address the situations of violence and atrocities committed against minorities. It has since established department of Conflict prevention, Ethics and good governance as well as a Human Rights Crimes and Mass Atrocities Unit with a focus on these situations. The Commission had also proposed to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to establish Minorities, Gender and Human Rights Desk in all Federal Agencies. At the national level, the Office of the National Security Adviser has similarly been engaged with programs to address these situations. There is evident reduction in the intensity of violations in some areas in the Northern States of Nigeria particularly the Middle Belt States like Plateau and Kaduna over the past 18 months. However, in the North-eastern States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, a lot of efforts are being made to calm the situation of insurgency which has a religious colouration unlike the others. With modest success achieved in some parts of north due to the combined efforts of the security agencies and community leaders indicate that when communities are fully mobilized a lot could be achieved. Quite clearly, more must be done not only to address the grave human rights implications of mass atrocities and violent crimes against minorities, but also to rebuild peaceful co-existence in our dear country, Nigeria. Thank you.