The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reported a 25% increase in human rights violation complaints in Nigeria for February 2025, receiving 205,364 cases compared to 169,850 in January.
Speaking in Abuja during the presentation of the February Human Rights Dashboard, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu highlighted rising concerns over mass killings, abductions, communal violence, extra-judicial killings by security forces, and an uptick in Boko Haram-related attacks.
The NHRC recorded 341 rape cases, 136 incidents of sexual violence, and 6,954 reports of domestic abuse in February. Child abandonment also surged, with 1,400 cases reported. Additionally, 191 killings—including 45 from communal clashes—were documented, alongside 144 abductions and 121 road accident-related deaths.
The NHRC raised concerns over increasing suicide rates and attacks on academic institutions, as well as controversial laws recently enacted in some states. Dr. Ojukwu specifically referenced the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law 2025, the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, and the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025, warning that harsh penalties, including the death penalty, must align with international human rights standards. He also cited concerns over the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control’s (NAFDAC) proposed death penalty for counterfeit drug offenses.
To address the growing issue of child abandonment, the NHRC has introduced a Child Safeguarding Policy aimed at protecting vulnerable children.
Dr. Ojukwu reiterated the urgent need for accountability within law enforcement agencies, stressing that security personnel remain the primary subjects of human rights complaints. He called for greater oversight to ensure that law enforcement practices adhere to human rights standards and that violations are swiftly addressed.
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