Outrage as NHRC records 427,000 human rights violations in October

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday said it received 427,606 complaints of human rights violations in October 2024 from its 38 offices across Nigeria.

NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN disclosed this at the presentation of the monthly human rights situation dashboard in Abuja.

He said the figure was a significant increase from previous months and signals a pattern of systemic human rights violations across the country.

This disturbing trend, Ojukwu said, speaks to the deep-rooted inequalities and prejudices that continue to plague the society, adding that, the challenge, is not just to acknowledge the issue but to take decisive action to dismantle the barriers and ensure equal treatment for all Nigerians, regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, or status.

“These actions are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of shrinking civic space and increasing state repression against those who dare to challenge the status quo,” he said.

“The minors’ arrests, particularly, underscore the vulnerability of young people in the context of a fragile democracy, and the critical need to ensure their rights are protected. It also questions the fearless participation of citizens in national development.”

Ojukwu said, the dashboard, launched in January 2024, has become a central tool in tracking and analysing the state of human rights in Nigeria.

“As we reflect on progress made, we are also compelled to confront the challenges that persist, with a clear commitment to advocate for justice, dignity, and the fundamental freedoms of all Nigerians,” he said.

“The dashboard is not merely a collection of data; it is a call to action and a powerful tool for advocacy. Each number represents the voice of a citizen, each statistic points to a broader story of rights, violations, and the urgent need for accountability.

“Through this monthly process, we have consistently provided a comprehensive overview of human rights concerns, detailing complaints received from across the country, as well as tracked incidents of human rights violations. By doing so, we aim to offer a vital resource to all those working to advance human rights in Nigeria.”

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He said the have triggered meaningful discussions and actions on pressing human rights issues and expressed the resolve of the Commission to remain resolute in its mission to chart the way forward for Nigeria’s human rights landscape.

Presenting the October, 2024 human rights situation dashboard, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna, the Senior human rights Adviser to the NHRC’s Executive Secretary and the coordinator of the situation dashboard said human rights violation complaints received increased by 27 percent in the month of October.

He said the complaint borders mainly on mass killings, abductions, child abandonment as well as cult related killings.

Ogbonna recalled that while the Commission received 228,549 complaints in August and 305,300 in September, it received a total of 427, 606 in October, representing 27 percent increase of human rights violation complaints in the country.

According to Ogbonna, there are 130 cases of kidnappings, 306 killings, 1,358 child abandonment, and 17 killings of security and law enforcement agencies in October.

The dashboard disclosed that the North Western part of the country led in the number of complaints while the Southern part maintained the lowest case of human rights violation in the month under review.

Ogbonna said It is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of the citizens and called the various state governments to put a stop to the rising cases of abductions and killings in the country.