In Nigeria, based on recent reports from NHRC, SERAP, Amnesty International, and US State Dept, the areas needing urgent government attention fall into 4 main categories:
Insecurity & Right to Life
This is the biggest category right now.
Mass abductions/kidnappings: Over 800 abductions recorded in Nov 2025 alone. Includes schoolchildren, farmers, travellers, worshippers. School abductions are at levels not seen since Chibok.
Killings by armed groups: Attacks in North-East, North-West, North-Central by bandits, Boko Haram, ISWAP. Example: Bombings in Maiduguri killed 23, injured 100+.
Extra-judicial killings & mob action: NHRC reports rise in extra-judicial killings, killings from mob action and cult violence.
Violations of right to life were the most prevalent complaint in Sept 2025.
Arbitrary Arrest, Detention & Freedom of Expression
Arbitrary detention: NHRC and SERAP flag unlawful arrest/detention as persistent issues.
Crackdown on critics: SERAP condemned detention of writer Okey Ndibe, accusing govt of harassment/intimidation of journalists, activists, writers. This violates Sec 39 of Constitution and Art 19 ICCPR.
Restrictions on protests: Amnesty warned against cracking down on peaceful protests around cost-of-living crisis.
. Violence Against Women, Children & Vulnerable Groups
Sexual/gender-based violence: 3,361 cases of domestic violence, 1,152 sexual violence cases in May 2025. Rise in rape/defilement of minors in Sept-Oct 2025.
Violence against children: Physical/sexual violence, abduction, child trafficking are rising.
Re-victimization of survivors: Female survivors of Boko Haram face stigmatization, rejection, denial of reintegration support, violating their right to dignity under Maputo Protocol.
Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
Access to justice: Denial of access to justice is one of top complaints.
Right to food & food security: Emerging concerns in Oct 2025. Economic crisis, inflation on food at 36% driving people into poverty.
Religious freedom violations: Reports of raids on places of worship, attacks on religious freedom in 7 states.
State & Non-State Actor Abuse
Law enforcement abuse: Law enforcement abuses, torture, cruel treatment are flagged. Prosecution of officials is rare.
Non-state actor violence: Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks on civilians, forced recruitment of child soldiers, sexual slavery, forced marriages.
Police abuses, domestic violence dominant in Southern zones.
Where the government is being called to act:
Strengthen civilian protection & accountability for abductions/killings.
End harassment of critics and guarantee freedom of expression.
Investigate & prosecute human rights abuses by officials.
Provide reintegration & psychosocial support for survivors of Boko Haram violence.
Address root causes: poverty, impunity, food insecurity.
Data comes from NHRC’s Human Rights Dashboard which recorded 406,088 complaints in Oct 2025 and 371,622 in Sept 2025.
In conclusion, for community advocacy campaign, the 3 areas with most public visibility right now are: insecurity/abductions, violence against women/children, and arbitrary detention/free speech.
– Benjamin Ibrahim writes from Lokoja, Kogi state.
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