The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reported a 25% rise in human rights violation complaints in Nigeria for February 2025. The NHRC Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the Commission’s monthly human rights dashboard in Abuja.
According to Ojukwu, the NHRC received 205,364 complaints in February, a sharp increase from 169,850 recorded in January. The NHRC dashboard provides monthly insights into human rights issues across the country.
Alarming Trends in Human Rights Violations
Ojukwu noted a concerning pattern of rising rights violations, highlighting mass killings, abductions in the North-West and North-Central, cult-related violence, communal clashes, extra-judicial killings by security forces, Boko Haram attacks, and increased cases of rape.
Key statistics from February 2025 include:
Rape cases: 341 complaints
Sexual violence cases: 136 complaints
Domestic violence cases: 6,954 complaints
Child abandonment: 1,400 cases reported
Killings: 191 deaths recorded, including 45 from communal clashes
Abductions: 144 reported cases
Road accident deaths: 121 fatalities
The NHRC also raised concerns over a rise in suicide cases and attacks on academic institutions, alongside persistent issues like cultism and extra-judicial killings.
Concerns Over New Laws and Human Rights Implications
The NHRC expressed concerns over recent state laws aimed at curbing crime but carrying significant human rights implications. These include:
Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law 2025
Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025
Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025
These laws impose severe penalties, including the death penalty, for crimes such as cultism and kidnapping, particularly ritual-related offenses. While acknowledging the need for strong measures against violent crimes, Ojukwu stressed that justice must align with international human rights standards and protect the rights of the accused.
Additionally, he highlighted concerns over the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control’s (NAFDAC) proposal for the death penalty on counterfeit drug offenses, questioning the balance between punishment and human rights.
Addressing Child Abandonment and Law Enforcement Accountability
Ojukwu also emphasized the growing crisis of child abandonment, attributing it to severe economic hardship. The NHRC has introduced a Child Safeguarding Policy to protect vulnerable children and ensure their rights are upheld.
On law enforcement, he pointed out that state actors remain the leading violators of human rights, urging greater accountability.
“This month, we received 205,364 complaints, reflecting the challenges in securing human rights for all Nigerians. Violations involving security agencies continue to dominate, which is a major concern. Those enforcing the law must not become the perpetrators of violations themselves,” he said.
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to holding violators accountable and ensuring that the rights of all Nigerians are protected.
