Again, NHRC raises alarm over rising rights violations

Records 169,850 Complaints In January Alone

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has again raised alarm over an observed surge in human rights violations across Nigeria, revealing that a staggering 169,850 complaints were received from its 38 offices nationwide in January 2025 alone.

The NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), at the presentation of the January 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, warned that the scale of rights abuses remains a dire challenge, with extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, insurgency, and gender-based violence topping the list of reported cases.

“Each complaint represents a person, a family, or a community seeking justice and accountability. Our duty is not just to document these violations but to ensure tangible action follows,” Ojukwu stated.

According to him, there are disturbing trends such as rising insecurity, mass killings, and child abandonment in the recent reports.

Ojukwu said the data paints a bleak picture of Nigeria’s human rights landscape, with 308 killings and 146 kidnappings recorded nationwide.

The report shows that over 900 children were abandoned by their parents in a single month and prevalent mass killings in Zamfara, where reports indicated that civilian vigilantes were bombed in Zurmi and Maradun.

Ojukwu pointed out that communal clashes led to multiple deaths, including 18 in Imo, 11 in Jigawa, and two in Ondo states.

The commission also revealed a sharp increase in gender-based violence, including spousal abandonment, inheritance denial, and violations of sexual and reproductive rights.

The NHRC report revealed that North-Central Nigeria recorded the highest number of human rights abuses, with states such as Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, and Imo topping the charts.

Extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and insurgent attacks remain rampant in these regions.

Human rights adviser, Hilary Ogbonna, also noted a 1000 per cent increase in reported violations compared to January 2024, raising fears of a deteriorating security situation.

The NHRC urged authorities to act swiftly to curb insurgency, prevent extrajudicial killings, and protect vulnerable citizens, emphasising that justice must be served to the victims.

“The revival of local government autonomy is a game changer, but real change requires commitment from all stakeholders — government, civil society, and the media — to hold authorities accountable,” Ojukwu stressed.

As Nigeria marks 30 years of the NHRC’s establishment, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to defending human rights and ensuring justice for all Nigerians.