NHRC Records 268,787 Human Rights Complaints in May, Calls Month ‘Devastating’

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it received 268,787 complaints relating to human rights violations across Nigeria in May 2026, describing the month as one of the most troubling periods for human rights in recent times.

The figure represents an increase of more than 2,000 complaints compared to April and reflects growing concerns over insecurity, unlawful killings, kidnappings and abuses involving state and non-state actors.

Presenting the Commission’s Human Rights Dashboard on Tuesday, NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu said the statistics paint a disturbing picture of the challenges facing citizens across the country.

“May 2026 has been a devastating month for human rights in Nigeria. Within the span of 31 days, we witnessed incidents that deeply challenged our collective commitment to human dignity and fundamental freedoms,” Ojukwu said.

According to the Commission, complaints involving discrimination and violations allegedly committed by law enforcement agencies remained among the most frequently reported cases during the month.

The NHRC also documented a series of abductions that affected schools, religious institutions and communities, resulting in violations of the rights to education, movement, life and freedom of worship.

Among the incidents highlighted were attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed assailants reportedly targeted multiple educational institutions, leaving scores of children temporarily unaccounted for.

The Commission also recorded several kidnapping incidents across the country, including the abduction of 15 persons in Katsina State, 13 victims in Kebbi State and 12 passengers in Ondo State.

Attacks on Religious Communities

NHRC Senior Human Rights Adviser Hilary Ogbonna said freedom of religion also came under serious threat during the month. According to him, worshippers attending a vigil in Kwara State were attacked by gunmen, resulting in the deaths of three people and the abduction of 15 others.

In another incident, an Islamic cleric was reportedly killed by attackers, while bandits also invaded a mosque in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Commission further noted the abduction of 13 persons travelling to a religious gathering in the Federal Capital Territory.

Of the total complaints recorded in May, 202 involved kidnappings, while 390 related to extrajudicial killings, including 92 deaths resulting from road accidents.

“These incidents reflect not isolated tragedies but a broader humanitarian concern that requires urgent national attention,” Ojukwu said.

Concerns Over Civilian Casualties

The Commission also expressed concern over reports of civilian casualties arising from military operations.

One of the incidents cited involved an airstrike in Tumfa community, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where civilians were reportedly affected during an operation targeting terrorists.

The NHRC said it had engaged the Nigerian Air Force and other military authorities over the matter and called for greater accountability whenever civilians are harmed during security operations.

Regional Breakdown

According to the Commission, the North-Central zone recorded the highest number of complaints with 120,659 cases.

The North-East followed with 50,201 complaints, while the North-West recorded 47,719 cases.

The South-East reported 31,210 complaints, while the South-South and South-West recorded 9,558 and 9,440 complaints respectively.

The Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Imo, Sokoto, Bauchi and Kogi emerged as the top 10 locations with the highest number of reported violations.

Collectively, these states accounted for approximately 74 per cent of all complaints received by the Commission during the month.

The NHRC also disclosed that 2,123 women reported cases of domestic violence in May, while 75 reported sexual violence and 18 reported rape.

For children, abandonment remained the most common rights violation, followed by custody-related disputes and sexual abuse.

Despite the troubling figures, the Commission reported notable progress in resolving cases. It said 3,560 complaints were successfully resolved during the month, representing a 115.63 per cent increase from the 1,651 cases resolved in April.

The Commission further disclosed that it conducted inspections of 107 custodial centres, police stations and detention facilities across the country as part of ongoing efforts to monitor compliance with human rights standards.