NHRC records 266,787 rights complaints as insecurity, hardship worsen in April

Nigeria’s insecurity and economic hardship pushed human rights complaints to 266,787 in April 2026, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), highlighting pressure on citizens’ welfare, civic freedoms and access to justice.

Tony Ojukwu (SAN), executive secretary of the NHRC, said terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence continue to undermine fundamental rights, including the rights to life, dignity and freedom of movement.

Speaking during the presentation of the commission’s April Human Rights Dashboard report on Tuesday in Abuja, Ojukwu said rising living costs and economic hardship have increased vulnerabilities among Nigerians, limiting access to healthcare and other basic services.

“For the month of April 2026, the Commission recorded a total of 266,787 complaints from across our offices nationwide.

“The complaints reflect the realities faced by Nigerians and underscore persistent challenges relating to discrimination, insecurity, abuse of authority, economic hardship and access to justice,” he said.

According to him, the Human Rights Situation Dashboard, introduced in 2024, has become a tool for tracking risks and strengthening evidence-based monitoring of human rights violations across the country.

He said the human rights situation in April was shaped by violent attacks, kidnappings, communal clashes, displacement, gender-based violence, mob actions and alleged abuses by security agencies.

The commission also expressed concern over a recent airstrike in Borno State that reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, as well as cases of extra-judicial killings linked to law enforcement agencies.

Ojukwu disclosed that the NHRC observatory recorded more than five cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in April.

“Human life is sacred and cannot be taken away by officers of our law enforcement and security agencies,” he said, while commending actions taken by the Inspector-General of Police and calling for the prosecution of offenders and compensation for victims’ families.

Hillary Ogbonna, senior human rights adviser to the commission, said the number of complaints received in April increased slightly compared to previous months, amid continued reports of killings, particularly in northern Nigeria.

Ogbonna identified the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Imo, Sokoto, Bauchi and Kogi as the 10 states with the highest number of human rights complaints during the period under review.

According to him, the states accounted for 76 percent of all complaints recorded nationwide.

He added that the states also ranked among the highest in cases involving killings, kidnappings, children’s rights abuses and sexual and gender-based violence.

The report recorded 423 killings and 327 kidnapping cases in April, with incidents linked to bandits, Boko Haram insurgents and unknown gunmen.

Ogbonna noted that killings and kidnappings increased compared to March, warning that inadequate responses from authorities continue to worsen insecurity.

He further disclosed that violations against children, including abduction, abandonment of newborns and sexual violence, were among the concerns highlighted in the report.

Cases of child abduction were reported mainly in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi and Cross River states, while sexual violence against children was recorded in Nasarawa, Ogun, Abia, Edo and Ondo states.

Also speaking at the event, Oyebisi Oluseyi, executive director of the Nigerian Network of NGOs, stressed the need to protect civic freedoms, especially freedom of expression.

He said the advisory document on protecting civic space and human rights was designed to strengthen citizens’ ability to exercise and defend their rights.