Nigeria’s human rights landscape is reeling under the weight of escalating violence and systemic neglect, as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) revealed it received a staggering 1,485,307 complaints in the first half of 2025.
Of these, only 20,137 cases have been resolved, representing a paltry 1.35 per cent resolution rate, which lays bare the depth of the justice deficit confronting the country.
Presenting the June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja on Monday, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), described the period as one of “senseless brutality and grave systemic failure,” calling for urgent, 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 are 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 said, 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 in June alone, describing the surge in kidnappings 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 7th Regional Consultation held in Abuja. Themed “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 emphasised that the human rights dashboard should not be viewed as a monthly ritual of lamentation. “It must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change,” he said, vowing that the NHRC will continue to discharge its mandate with “purposeful and sustained action.”
The Executive Secretary stated that the NHRC, 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.
