The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Nigeria has raised concerns over the increasing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, emphasizing the need to enhance collaboration with state and non-state actors to strengthen human rights protections at all levels.
According to the NHRC dashboard, the commission received 169,850 reports, highlighting that challenges such as poverty, lack of access to education, and insufficient social services reflect deeper societal issues, urging stronger measures to address them.
During the presentation of the January 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu cautioned that the prevalence of rights abuses continues to be a serious concern, highlighted by extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, insurgency, and gender-based violence as the most reported issues.
“Each of these complaints represents a person, a family, or a community seeking justice, accountability, and relief. Our duty is to ensure that these voices are not just heard, but that tangible action follows,” Dr Ojukwu said.
He stated that the commission’s responsibility goes beyond merely documenting human rights violations; it aims to foster real, lasting change in governance, security, and social justice.
The commission also reported a significant rise in gender-based violence, including spousal abandonment, denial of inheritance, and breaches of sexual and reproductive rights.
The NHRC report indicated the highest incidence of human rights abuses particularly in states like Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, and Imo.
According to the report, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and insurgent attacks are widespread in these areas.
@NHRCNigeria presents January 2025 #HumanRights Situation Dashboard with 169,850 complaints of #HumanRights violations, a 1000% increase from the previous year. pic.twitter.com/5Z6mDVVHxy
— NHRC Nigeria (@NhrcNigeria) February 14, 2025
While presenting the January 2025 edition of the Human Rights situation dashboard to the public, the Senior Human Rights Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna provided insights into the types of complaints that have been received by the commission, citing an upsurge in sexual abuse in the country.
Mr. Ogbonna highlighted a 1000% rise in reported violations since January 2024 and urged authorities to take immediate action against insurgency, prevent extrajudicial killings, and safeguard vulnerable citizens, stressing the need for justice for 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 added.
The dashboard provides an overview of current human rights violations which the Commission has collated across the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT.
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