NHRC Raises Alarm Over 390 Deaths, 202 Kidnappings, and 268,787 Rights Complaints in One Month

* Says attacks on schools, worshippers, security personnel threaten human dignity

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday presented a stark assessment of Nigeria’s human rights landscape, reporting 268,787 complaints filed nationwide in May 2026 amid rising killings, kidnappings, assaults on schools and places of worship, and widening insecurity.

During the launch of the commission’s May Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu described the month as one of the most devastating for human rights in recent memory, warning that the country faces a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent national attention.

The dashboard shows that 390 people were killed and 202 were kidnapped in the 31 days under review, with children, worshippers, security personnel and rural communities among the hardest hit.

Ojukwu said the scale of violations in just one month highlighted the fragile state of human rights protection in Nigeria.

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

He noted that civilians were killed across the country, schoolchildren were abducted from classrooms, worshippers were attacked in places of prayer, and members of the armed forces and other security agencies lost their lives while performing their constitutional duties.

The commission expressed particular concern over the growing attacks on educational institutions, citing the abduction of more than 45 pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State, many of whom remain in captivity.

The NHRC also highlighted the abduction of more than 40 schoolchildren in Borno State, warning that the attacks underscore Nigeria’s long‑running struggle to protect schools and secure children’s right to education.

“What should have been a place of learning became a scene of fear and uncertainty,” Ojukwu lamented, adding that such incidents raise serious questions about compliance with constitutional guarantees, child protection laws and school safety policies.

The commission further condemned attacks on religious communities, recalling an incident in Kwara State where worshippers were attacked during prayers, resulting in deaths and the abduction of 15 persons.

According to Ojukwu, the growing trend of targeting religious worshippers represents a direct assault on freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and threatens the social fabric of affected communities.

The commission also drew attention to reports of civilian casualties from military operations, including a military airstrike that reportedly struck a civilian market in Tumfa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

While acknowledging efforts by the Nigerian Air Force to investigate allegations of civilian harm, the NHRC renewed its call for the adoption of the National Policy for the Protection of Civilians in Conflict and urged a coordinated government‑wide approach to mitigating civilian harm.

At the same time, the commission condemned attacks on military formations and the killing of security personnel, insisting that the nation’s armed forces require greater support and equipment to effectively confront the multiple security threats facing the country.

Ojukwu stressed that the incidents recorded during the month constituted violations of fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights instruments, including the rights to life, dignity, personal liberty, education and freedom of religion.

Despite the grim statistics, the NHRC commended ongoing military operations that have led to the neutralisation of terrorists and the rescue of abducted victims in Borno and other parts of the country.

The commission called on government institutions and security agencies to strengthen civilian protection measures, improve operational accountability, invest more in school safety and provide psychosocial support to victims and affected families.

Ojukwu also praised civil society organisations, humanitarian agencies, development partners and the media for their continued efforts in documenting violations and promoting accountability.

He urged all stakeholders not to lose sight of the principle that human rights are fundamental entitlements and not privileges, stressing that every Nigerian deserves to live in dignity, freedom and equality.

“Human rights are not a luxury or a privilege, but a basic entitlement for all people. It is our collective duty to ensure that every individual in Nigeria can live with dignity, freedom and equality,” he said.