The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) disclosed that 390 people were killed and 202 others kidnapped across Nigeria in May 2026, with 268,787 human rights complaints recorded nationwide during the same period. Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, presented the May Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, describing the month as one of the most devastating for human rights in recent times. He cited attacks on schools, places of worship, and security personnel as key drivers of the crisis, noting that civilians, children, and armed forces personnel were among the worst affected.
More than 45 pupils and teachers were abducted from schools in Oyo State, many still in captivity, while over 40 schoolchildren were also kidnapped in Borno State. Ojukwu said these attacks turned schools into scenes of fear, undermining constitutional guarantees and child protection laws. In Kwara State, worshippers were attacked during prayers, resulting in deaths and the abduction of 15 people, an act the commission said directly threatened freedom of religion and community cohesion.
The NHRC also raised concerns over civilian casualties from military operations, including an airstrike in Tumfa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, that reportedly hit a civilian market. While the Nigerian Air Force is investigating the incident, the commission urged adoption of the National Policy for the Protection of Civilians in Conflict. The NHRC condemned attacks on military formations and the killing of security personnel, calling for better equipment and support for the armed forces. Ojukwu emphasized that the incidents violated rights to life, dignity, education, and freedom of religion under Nigeria's constitution and international agreements.
Dr. Tony Ojukwu leads a commission overwhelmed by 268,787 complaints in one month while calling for policies already overdue. The same children abducted in Oyo and Borno remain in captivity as the state struggles to enforce existing child protection laws. No school has reopened in Tumfa after the Zamfara airstrike, and no timeline has been given for justice.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
