NHRC Raises Alarm Over Rising Human Rights Violations, Records 659,617 Complaints in Q1 2026

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised fresh concerns over a worsening human rights and security situation in Nigeria, disclosing that it received 659,617 complaints and recorded 992 killings in the first quarter of 2026, amid rising cases of discrimination, insecurity, and abuse across the country.

Presenting the January–March 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Senior Adviser to the Commission, Hilary Ogbona, said the data reflected both an escalation in violations and improved public reporting, warning that the trends point to deepening national challenges in governance, security, and social protection.

Ogbona explained that complaints increased consistently across the quarter, with 180,341 cases in January, 223,144 in February, and 256,132 in March, adding that the dominant category of complaints remained freedom from discrimination, followed closely by cases linked to law enforcement misconduct and violations of human dignity.

“For the months of January to March 2026, we recorded 659,617 human rights complaints in the Commission.”

He said the Commission’s Human Rights Observatory also captured incidents beyond formal petitions, revealing widespread insecurity-related abuses, including killings, abductions, communal violence, and sexual and gender-based violence across multiple states.

According to him, mass killings peaked in February 2026, making it the deadliest month of the quarter, driven largely by insurgent attacks, banditry operations, communal clashes, and mob violence in several regions.

“Mass killings across Nigeria reached an all-time high, especially in the month of February.”

The report showed that the North-Central zone recorded the highest number of complaints, followed by the North-West and North-East, with Abuja (FCT), Benue, Niger, Plateau, and Kaduna among the most affected states. Ogbona noted that reporting structures in the FCT also contributed to its high ranking due to combined data from multiple NHRC offices.

The adviser further highlighted growing concerns over gender-based violence and violations against children, including sexual assault, abandonment, trafficking risks, and denial of access to care. He described the situation as a “serious protection crisis,” especially for vulnerable populations.

“We have seen an upsurge in gender-based violence and discrimination.”

He also disclosed that child rights violations remained widespread, with child abandonment emerging as the most frequent category, alongside rising incidents of exploitation and domestic abuse. In addition, mob justice and “home action killings” were identified as increasing contributors to overall fatalities.

The NHRC report further indicated that out of the 992 killings recorded, a significant proportion were attributed to bandit groups, Boko Haram insurgents, and unknown gunmen, while others stemmed from communal clashes, cult-related violence, and mob actions. Road and boat accidents were separately recorded at 197 deaths and not included in the main security tally.

Justice sector institutions and partners at the event commended the NHRC for strengthening transparency through its dashboard system.

A representative of the Police Service Commission, Barista Dada, described the dashboard as a critical accountability mechanism for monitoring police conduct and enforcing discipline within the Nigeria Police Force.

“The dashboard has become an official platform upon which human rights compliance in Nigeria can be assessed monthly, quarterly.”

He added that findings from the NHRC reports are increasingly being used to validate allegations of misconduct and guide disciplinary action against officers.

Similarly, Barista Bamidele, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, said the dashboard exposed systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s justice system, particularly delays in investigations and trials.

“The incessant abuse of human rights and systemic delays in handling of investigations, criminal trials, ineffective administration creates justice gaps.”

He stressed that the Legal Aid Council views the initiative as essential for improving access to justice and supporting victims of human rights violations across the country.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, said the dashboard has continued to receive international recognition, including presentations at the United Nations in Geneva, where it was highlighted as an innovative model for human rights monitoring.

“I was recently honoured to speak on the Dashboard at the United Nations in Geneva, reflecting global recognition of our efforts.”

He added that the Commission is working to sustain the dashboard beyond donor support, describing it as a permanent tool for accountability, transparency, and policy guidance.

The NHRC warned that the first quarter 2026 figures underscore urgent national challenges requiring coordinated action across all levels of government. It called for stronger institutional accountability, improved security responses, and deeper collaboration with civil society, development partners, and the media to curb rising human rights violations and restore public confidence in governance and justice systems.

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Rising Human Rights Violations, Records 659,617 Complaints in Q1 2026