The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has released its Human Rights Situation Dashboard for April 2025, revealing a troubling escalation in violations across the country. The report documented a total of 261,483 complaints, reflecting a 20% increase compared to figures from March 2025.
According to the Commission, incidents of killings and kidnappings have surged drastically. The month recorded 570 killings, representing a 160% increase, while 278 cases of kidnapping were reported a 240% spike from the previous month.
A regional breakdown shown that the North Central zone recorded the highest number of complaints with 93,091 cases, followed by the North West with 54,051, and the South South with 39,312.
Child rights violations continue to plague communities, with 1,121 cases of child abandonment recorded. Other concerns include increasing cases of child labour, early marriage, and abuse — all of which remain prevalent and underreported.
In the area of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the Commission reported 6,135 cases of domestic violence and 2,220 cases of sexual violence, alongside 11 officially recorded incidents of rape. These figures reflected the ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
Violations of women’s rights also remained rampant. The report highlighted persistent issues such as gender-based discrimination, human trafficking, and harmful traditional practices, which continue to endanger the lives and well-being of Nigerian women.
The NHRC identified the main perpetrators of killings in April as bandits (24%), the Lakawura group (20%), and Boko Haram (17%), with state and non-state actors also implicated in a range of abuses.
In response to the rising figures, the Commission emphasized the need for urgent national intervention, sustained monitoring, and collective accountability by relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, civil society, and development partners.
The NHRC reiterated its commitment to leveraging data to promote transparency and drive actionable policy. It continues to work in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHumanRights), and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to strengthen Nigeria’s human rights monitoring framework.
The full April 2025 Human Rights Dashboard is available for download on the NHRC website: www.nhrc.gov.ng.
