Nigeria’s human rights situation deteriorated sharply in May as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received a staggering 268,787 reports of rights violations across the country, with rising insecurity, attacks on schools, places of worship and civilian communities emerging as major concerns.
The executive secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of the Commission’s May Human Rights Dashboard Observatory, describing the month as “devastating” for human rights in Nigeria.
According to Ojukwu, incidents recorded during the period exposed deep challenges to the protection of fundamental rights, including the rights to life, liberty, education, dignity and freedom of religion.
“May has been a devastating month for human rights in Nigeria. Within the span of 31 days, we witnessed incidents that deeply challenge our collective commitment to human dignity and fundamental freedoms,” he said.
The NHRC boss noted that violations involving non-state actors remained the most prevalent category of abuses recorded nationwide, while insecurity continued to threaten communities, schools, religious centres and security formations.Among the incidents highlighted by the Commission was a reported military airstrike in a village in Zamfara State, which allegedly struck a civilian market while targeting terrorists.
Ojukwu said the Commission had engaged the Nigerian Air Force on the matter and welcomed ongoing investigations into allegations that civilians may have been affected during military operations.
He renewed calls for the adoption of a national policy on the protection of civilians, stressing that safeguarding non-combatants during security operations should become a national standard.
While expressing concern over civilian casualties, the NHRC chief also condemned attacks on military formations and the killing of security personnel, insisting that security forces require adequate support and equipment to confront the country’s multiple security challenges.
“Our security forces are frontline defenders of human rights and must be properly equipped to address the complex conflicts confronting the nation,” he said.
The Commission also raised alarm over continued attacks on educational institutions, citing the abduction of more than 45 pupils and teachers during an attack on a school in Oyo State.
Ojukwu said the incident transformed what should have been a safe learning environment into a scene of fear and uncertainty, adding that many of the victims were still being held captive.
He further referenced another attack in Borno State involving the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren, warning that such incidents undermine constitutional guarantees, child protection laws and Nigeria’s commitments under the Safe Schools Declaration.
The NHRC also condemned attacks on religious worshippers, including an incident in Kwara State where gunmen reportedly killed and abducted worshippers during a prayer gathering.
According to Ojukwu, the growing trend of targeting religious communities represents a direct assault on freedom of religion and conscience as guaranteed under both Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights instruments.
He stressed that the incidents documented by the Commission constituted serious violations of rights protected under domestic and international law.
Beyond documenting abuses, Ojukwu said government institutions must take urgent steps to strengthen civilian protection measures, improve operational procedures and ensure accountability where violations occur.
He called for increased investment in school safety programmes, enhanced protection for vulnerable communities and the provision of psychosocial support for victims of violence and their families.
The NHRC boss, however, commended the armed forces for recent successes in rescuing abducted persons and neutralising terrorists in parts of the country.
He also praised civil society organisations, humanitarian groups, development partners and the media for their roles in promoting accountability and drawing attention to human rights concerns.
Ojukwu reaffirmed that human rights are neither privileges nor luxuries but fundamental entitlements that must be guaranteed to every Nigerian.
“We must ensure that every individual in Nigeria can live in dignity, freedom, equality and without fear for the security of their person,” he said.
The monthly Human Rights Dashboard Observatory provides data and analysis on human rights violations reported across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, serving as an accountability tool for monitoring trends and identifying areas requiring urgent intervention.
