Amid escalating violence and systemic neglect, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has confirmed receiving 1,485,307 complaints in the first half of this year.
Of the figure, only 20,137 cases have been resolved, representing a 1.35 per cent resolution rate, and highlighting the the scale of justice deficit in the country.
Presenting the June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja yesterday, NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu (SAN), described the period as one of “senseless brutality and grave systemic failure,” calling for urgent and coordinated action across all levels of government, civil society, and development partners.
“In June alone, 327,154 new complaints were lodged with the Commission,” Ojukwu announced, stressing that the numbers were not just statistics but “desperate pleas for justice” from Nigerians subjected to abuse, violence, and impunity.
According to Ojukwu, among the most harrowing incidents were the mass killings in Yelewata and Dauda communities of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State, where over 200 civilians were slaughtered in attacks attributed to armed herders and bandits.
The month, according to the commission, also saw the deaths of more than 17 soldiers in Kaduna and Niger states, as well as the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida – a major blow to grassroots security efforts in the troubled North Central and North West regions.
“These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners,” Ojukwu submitted, urging the Federal Government to act decisively to prevent a total collapse of the rule of law.
He added that over 50 travellers were abducted on highways in Kogi and Benue States during the period, describing the surge in abductions as a direct violation of the rights to movement, dignity, and safety.
The commission further announced a key regional milestone: its election as President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA) during the seventh Regional Consultation held in Abuja, with the theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
The gathering spotlighted the role of NHRIs in advancing justice and redress across the continent. Ojukwu stressed that the human rights dashboard must not be treated as a monthly ritual of lamentation.
“It must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change,” he urged, vowing that the NHRC will continue to discharge its mandate with “purposeful and sustained action.”
The executive secretary stated that the commission, however, faces daunting challenges such as underfunding, low enforcement capacity, and a justice system plagued by delays and corruption, all of which threaten to overwhelm its ability to deliver redress in a country gripped by multifaceted insecurity.
