The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern over the rising internal displacement crisis in Nigeria, revealing that Benue and Borno states recorded the highest numbers between February and April 2025.
Speaking during the launch of Nigeria’s first Human Rights Internal Displacement Dashboard and the presentation of the Commission’s monthly human rights review in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), lamented the deteriorating conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs), warning against the growing normalization of suffering in the country.
“This is not just about data — it’s about the lived realities of Nigerians who feel unprotected, unheard, and left behind,” Ojukwu said.
According to the NHRC, 44,295 individuals were displaced in April alone, involving 5,953 households and over 20,000 children. The causes include armed conflict, sexual violence, and natural disasters such as severe flooding.
One notable incident cited was the destructive flood in Mokwa, Niger State, likened to the 1996 flood that claimed over 200 lives.
“These events underscore the urgent need for coordinated disaster preparedness and response mechanisms,” Ojukwu stressed.
The Human Rights Displacement Dashboard, launched in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is designed to provide real-time data on IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees while highlighting the human rights concerns affecting them.
The Commission received over 1,460 complaints from displaced persons in the first quarter of 2024. In May alone, it recorded 275,256 human rights complaints, with the Northwest region accounting for 81,495 cases — the highest in the country.
“What is most troubling is society’s growing indifference to this suffering. We must stop treating human suffering as routine and start demanding accountability,” Ojukwu warned.
The NHRC also announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Human Rights Commission and Ability Life Initiative to enhance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Despite existing laws, Ojukwu noted that over 35 million Nigerians with disabilities still face exclusion and poor access to opportunities.
“This partnership is about active inclusion — ensuring persons with disabilities are fully integrated into our nation’s social and economic life,” he said.
He urged government agencies, civil society, and development partners to utilize the data to design solutions, enforce accountability, and protect the rights of all Nigerians, especially the displaced and marginalised.
