NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for stronger safeguards against violence and exploitation targeting women and children, tighter oversight of detention facilities and increased protection of civic freedoms ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, said persistent cases of sexual and gender-based violence, child abuse, discrimination and other forms of exploitation required more effective prevention mechanisms, thorough investigations and improved access to justice.

Ojukwu, who spoke in Abuja during the presentation of the Commission’s September 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard, urged government authorities to translate ongoing reforms into practical protection for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly children in underserved communities.

He welcomed the September stakeholders’ engagement on the review of the Child Rights Act, 2003, describing it as an opportunity to address gaps in the country’s child protection framework and strengthen institutional responses to violence and exploitation.

He, however, stressed that reviewing the law would not be sufficient without adequate funding, stronger institutions and effective implementation capable of delivering tangible protection to children.

The NHRC chief called on relevant authorities to ensure that the reform process produced practical measures to prevent abuse, protect vulnerable children and improve access to justice for victims.

On the treatment of detainees, Ojukwu emphasised the importance of independent monitoring of custodial facilities, warning that effective human rights protection required sustained oversight of institutions responsible for enforcing the law.

He disclosed that the Commission, through its National Preventive Mechanism, validated its 2025–2026 annual report on September 25, bringing together stakeholders to examine findings and recommendations on preventing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in places of detention.

According to him, the exercise was aimed at identifying systemic weaknesses that expose detainees to abuse and strengthening measures to prevent violations.

He said independent monitoring of detention facilities remained critical to accountability within the justice and law enforcement systems, particularly in ensuring that people deprived of their liberty continued to enjoy the protection of the law.

The Commission also stepped up efforts to monitor threats to civic freedoms as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Network of NGOs and with support from Heinrich Böll Stiftung Nigeria and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, organised a training workshop for the Commission’s state coordinators on Tuesday, October 13.

The workshop focused on operationalising the NHRC’s advisory opinion on promoting and protecting civic space and human rights, issued on May 18, 2026.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of state offices to identify, document and report violations affecting civic space, including restrictions on peaceful assemblies and regulatory practices affecting civil society organisations.

Ojukwu said integrating civic space monitoring into the Commission’s Human Rights Observatory and Dashboard would improve its ability to detect emerging threats and facilitate timely institutional responses.

He stressed that democratic governance must be measured not only by the conduct of elections but also by the extent to which citizens could freely express their views, associate with others, assemble peacefully and participate meaningfully in public affairs.

The Commission called on government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify collaboration in addressing the underlying causes of human rights violations.

Ojukwu said the NHRC would continue to strengthen its monitoring and reporting systems, improve investigations and complaints resolution, and ensure that documented findings informed policy decisions and institutional reforms.

He maintained that the Commission’s responsibility extended beyond recording allegations to helping prevent violations, securing remedies for victims and ensuring accountability.

“The true measure of our progress is not simply the number of complaints documented, but the extent to which our collective efforts improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to act on the findings and recommendations of the September dashboard, stressing that sustained collective action was necessary to prevent human rights violations, secure justice for victims and hold public institutions accountable.

The Commission’s renewed emphasis on child protection, custodial oversight and civic freedoms comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, placing the protection of fundamental rights and accountability for alleged abuses among the issues requiring sustained attention from public institutions.

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Child Abuse, Custodial Torture, Civic Freedom Violations