NHRC Receives 331,035 Complaints in July, Highlights Escalating Violence, Human Rights Violations

By Toffa Momoh, Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received a staggering 331,035 complaints in July, highlighting the escalating violence and human rights violations across Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu OFR SAN, disclosed this while presenting the July dashboard and observatory report in Abuja.

The complaints received by the NHRC underscore the persistence of systemic problems, including law enforcement issues, human dignity, freedom, and discrimination from economic, social, and cultural rights.

The Commission noted that these issues are not new, but their continued prevalence is alarming.

The Executive Secretary who is also the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa
believes that the involvement of all stakeholders, including the armed forces and security agencies, is crucial in enhancing security and promoting human rights.

He lamented, the month of July represents the deadliest for vigilante groups in the country with a fatality of almost a hundred deaths, emphasising the role of vigilante in supporting our security and armed forces in the field of battle.

“The decimation of the vigilantes portends danger for our collective security and the enjoyment of our liberties. These are not isolated incidents; they represent a failure of security, justice and accountability. We are seeing an increase in targeted killings of law enforcement agents; frequent kidnappings and killings by bandits; brazen acts of violence by cultist groups and widespread violations of the right to life, particularly in communities already vulnerable due to conflict and poverty.”

Ojukwu noted that the NHRC welcomed the arrests of the leaders of Ansaru, a deadly terrorist organisation which is responsible for gross human rights violations of Nigerians. Saying, “We commend the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces and the Office of the National Security Adviser for this feat. There is much we can achieve in safeguarding our citizens and human rights if agencies collaborate and adopt human rights-based approaches. We call on the authorities to swiftly put every machinery in place to ensure swift trials of the terrorist leaders and ensure that they are held to the highest form of accountability befitting their heinous crimes.

Dr. Ojukwu appreciates the support of partners, including the United Nations Country Team, and looks forward to continued collaboration in promoting human rights and security in Nigeria.

“As we salute the courage and gallantry of our intelligence and armed forces, we call on other sectors of our of our security and law enforcement to rise up to the responsibility of safeguarding the human rights of Nigerians currently facing attacks in Benue, Plateau, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno states all of whom, based on our dashboard for July are facing dire security situations,” he said.

While presenting the July Dashboard of the commission, the Senior Adviser to the commission on human rights, Hillary Ogboanna said, the commission received 331, 035 human rights complaints across the country. Saying that North Central recorded a total of 140, 707 complaints with Benue state topping the chart for the first time; followed by North West with 63, 296, while North East recorded 55, 287; South East 41, 895 and South West with 14, 570.

On thematics, he noted that the commission received 758 cases of child abandonement, 375 cases of killings-16 killings of armed forces and law enforcement and 98 cases of kidnapping.

Though the commission observed that there was a 45% reduction in killings, but with an increase in kidnapping.

According to the dashboard as presented by Mr. Ogbanna, 97 vigilantes were killed across six states in the month of July; 70 in Plateau state, 9-Zamfara, 7-Borno, 5- Kwara, 3-Niger and 3 in Edo state. Meanwhile, 30 farmers were also killed in Benue, Plateau and Kogi state respectively.

In a more dramatic and surprising scenario, bandits killed 38 hostages after collecting N50 million ransom

Eagles Online report that North Central also tops the list of kidnapped victims with 51, followed by North West with 25, North East 18, South East 4 and South South 1cases.

Eagles Online also understand that on violations of children’s rights, the case of child custody and abandonment has remained in the increase.

Meanwhile, the NHRC boss, Ojukwu noted that the commission doesn’t merely document, it advocates, intervenes, and engages. and insist that this state of affairs must not become our new normal. “We are calling on: Security agencies to reaffirm their commitment to professionalism and human rights in their operations;

Government actors to address the root causes of these violations – poverty, impunity, and weak institutional responses; Civil society and the media to continue raising awareness and putting pressure where needed; And on all citizens to speak out and stand firm against violence, injustice, and indifference.

Finally he said, “Each month, the dashboard serves not just as a reflection of data and incidents, but as a mirror held up to our country, revealing both the resilience of our people and the urgent work still to be done to protect the rights and dignity of the Nigerian people.”