Abuja, June 11, 2025 – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disclosed that it recorded a staggering 275,542 complaints of human rights violations across Nigeria within a single month, highlighting a worrying trend in the nation’s human rights landscape.
This revelation was made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), during a press briefing at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to him, the complaints were collated through the commission’s various reporting channels including its call centre, mobile app, state offices, and walk-in reports.
Dr. Ojukwu stated that the spike in reports was largely due to increased public awareness and the Commission’s sustained efforts to make rights-reporting more accessible through digital platforms and community outreach.
“Between the 1st and 31st of May 2025, we received 275,542 complaints nationwide. These ranged from domestic violence, unlawful detention, sexual and gender-based violence, police brutality, child abuse, labour exploitation, to violations against persons with disabilities,” he said.
He added that the highest number of cases were reported in Lagos, Rivers, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), attributing the volume in part to the population density and heightened sensitization efforts in those areas.
The NHRC boss emphasized that the rise in complaints should not be viewed solely as a deterioration of human rights in Nigeria, but rather as an indication of growing public confidence in the Commission’s responsiveness and credibility.
He noted that over 180,000 of the cases have been addressed either through mediation, referrals to appropriate authorities, or outright resolution. However, he also decried the systemic challenges that still hamper justice delivery, including poor funding, legal bottlenecks, and non-compliance by some security agencies.
Dr. Ojukwu reiterated the Commission’s call for stronger collaboration with the judiciary, security agencies, and civil society organisations to build a culture of accountability and human dignity in Nigeria.
“As we continue to respond to these violations, we urge citizens to know their rights, stand for justice, and report abuses promptly. Human rights must never be seen as privileges, they are entitlements of every Nigerian,” he declared.
The NHRC has also launched a nationwide campaign tagged “My Right, My Voice”, aimed at educating Nigerians on their constitutional rights and the available legal frameworks for seeking redress. The initiative will include town hall meetings, school outreach, and multilingual rights education across the six geopolitical zones.
The Commission assured the public of its unwavering commitment to defending the rights of all Nigerians, irrespective of status, tribe, or religion.
