National Human Rights Commission’s May 2026 Dashboard exposes worsening insecurity, rising attacks on children, widespread discrimination, and growing concerns over law enforcement conduct as North Central emerges as the nation’s human rights hotspot.
By A1NEWS International / June 16, 2026
ABUJA, NIGERIA —A Nation Under Pressure
Nigeria’s human rights landscape deteriorated further in May 2026 as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recorded a staggering 268,787 complaints nationwide, reflecting growing public concerns over insecurity, discrimination, abuse of rights, and failures in the justice system.
The findings are contained in the NHRC Human Rights Situation Dashboard for May 2026, which paints a troubling picture of a country grappling with persistent killings, mass abductions, child rights violations, gender-based violence, and attacks on educational institutions.
The Commission disclosed that complaints increased by approximately 2,000 compared to April 2026, continuing an upward trend observed since January.
According to the report, mass killings remained prevalent across several parts of the country, particularly in northern states, while widespread kidnappings and attacks on vulnerable populations continued to undermine citizens’ fundamental rights.
Complaints Rise Sharply Across Nigeria
The dashboard reveals a steady increase in reported human rights violations during the first five months of 2026.
NHRC data shows:
- January 2026: 180,341 complaints
- February 2026: 223,144 complaints
- March 2026: 256,132 complaints
- April 2026: 266,787 complaints
- May 2026: 268,787 complaints
The figures suggest a sustained escalation in grievances brought before the Commission, highlighting growing public reliance on NHRC mechanisms for seeking redress.
North Central Emerges Epicentre of Human Rights Complaints
Geographically, the North Central zone accounted for the highest number of complaints with 120,659 cases, representing 45 percent of all complaints recorded nationwide.
Other regional figures include:
- North East – 50,201 complaints
- North West – 47,719 complaints
- South West – 31,210 complaints
- South East – 9,558 complaints
- South South – 9,440 complaints
The concentration of complaints in the North Central region reflects the severe impact of communal clashes, banditry, displacement, and security challenges affecting communities within the zone.
FCT Leads States with Highest Human Rights Complaints
Among states and territories, the Federal Capital Territory recorded the highest share of complaints, accounting for 21 percent of the national total.
Other states ranking among the top ten include:
- Benue
- Borno
- Kaduna
- Niger
- Plateau
- Imo
- Sokoto
- Bauchi
- Kogi
Collectively, these ten locations accounted for 74 percent of all complaints received by the Commission during the reporting period.
Discrimination Tops Human Rights Violations
An examination of thematic complaints reveals that freedom from discrimination constituted the largest category, with 100,707 reported incidents.
Other major categories include:
- Law Enforcement and Human Dignity – 66,609 complaints
- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – 38,120 complaints
- Rule of Law and Access to Justice – 16,258 complaints
- Freedom of Religion – 11,087 complaints
- Freedom and Liberty of Persons – 8,801 complaints
- Labour Rights – 8,101 complaints
- Right to Life – 6,620 complaints
The figures suggest persistent concerns regarding equality before the law, treatment by security agencies, and access to justice mechanisms.
Child Rights Violations Raise Alarm
One of the most disturbing aspects of the report is the prevalence of abuses against children.
The NHRC documented multiple cases involving:
- Sexual abuse
- Child trafficking
- Child labour
- Child marriage
- Child abandonment
- Denial of education
- Custody-related disputes
The report highlighted several shocking incidents across the country.
In Adamawa State, cases included the defilement of a five-year-old child in Yolde Pate, the abuse of a three-year-old child in Lamurde, and the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Yola.
In Bauchi State, a 70-year-old man allegedly defiled a 10-year-old child, while in Rivers State, a 16-year-old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted by a neighbour.
Perhaps most tragic was the reported killing of a nine-year-old girl in Enugu State allegedly beaten to death by her stepmother.
Domestic Violence Dominates Gender-Based Abuse
The dashboard recorded 2,123 incidents of domestic violence, making it the most prevalent form of sexual and gender-based violence.
Additional cases included:
- 75 incidents of sexual violence
- 18 rape cases
Women also continued to face discrimination, denial of inheritance rights, harmful cultural practices, forced marriages, trafficking, and abandonment.
Human rights advocates warn that these trends underscore the urgent need for stronger enforcement of gender protection laws and support systems for survivors.
Insecurity Claims Hundreds of Lives
The NHRC documented 390 killings and 202 kidnappings across Nigeria during May alone.
The states recording the highest numbers of killings were:
- Plateau – 55 deaths
- Katsina – 49 deaths
- Benue – 21 deaths
- Zamfara – 19 deaths
- Yobe – 17 deaths
The report further noted that 41 military personnel and law enforcement officers were killed during the reporting period.
Road accidents also claimed 92 lives.
Mass Killings Continue Across Northern Communities
Several incidents cited by the Commission reveal the brutal nature of attacks carried out by armed groups.
Among them:
- Seventeen villagers were reportedly killed in Gwalgoro village, Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
- Sixteen worshippers were allegedly murdered after Juma’at prayers in Kiliya village, Dutsinma Local Government Area.
These attacks form part of a broader pattern of violence that continues to destabilise rural communities and deepen humanitarian concerns.
Schools Under Siege as Abductions Persist
The report also highlighted alarming attacks on educational institutions.
In Borno State, 42 schoolchildren were abducted during an attack on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
The victims reportedly included:
- Four secondary school students
- Twenty-eight primary school pupils
- Ten children taken from nearby homes
Similarly, in Oyo State, bandits attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 46 persons, including 39 students and seven teachers.
The incidents reinforce fears over the continued targeting of schools despite previous national and international efforts to secure learning environments.
NHRC Expands Monitoring and Investigations
Amid mounting complaints, the Commission intensified oversight activities.
The dashboard indicates that NHRC completed 3,560 investigations during May 2026.
Other interventions included:
- 107 visits to police stations, correctional centres and detention facilities
- 32 summonses and official communications issued to the Nigeria Police
- Visits to military formations to monitor human rights compliance
The Commission maintains that these efforts are essential to strengthening accountability and protecting vulnerable citizens.
The May 2026 NHRC Human Rights Situation Dashboard presents a sobering assessment of Nigeria’s human rights environment.
While the increasing number of complaints may reflect greater public awareness and confidence in reporting violations, the data simultaneously exposes deep-rooted challenges ranging from insecurity and discrimination to attacks on children and educational institutions.
For policymakers, security agencies and civil society organisations, the report serves as both a warning and a call to action. Without comprehensive reforms, stronger accountability mechanisms and enhanced protection for vulnerable populations, experts warn that the country’s human rights crisis could deepen further in the months ahead.
Leave a Reply