The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disclosed that it received a total of 371,622 complaints of human rights violations across Nigeria in September 2025, with the North-Central region accounting for the highest number of cases at 153,967.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), made this known on Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the September 2025 Dashboard Report.
According to Ojukwu, the reported violations included denial of access to justice, unlawful arrest and detention, domestic and sexual violence, torture, and discrimination, among others.
“In September, the commission received a total of 371,622 complaints on human rights violations from across our state offices. These complaints cover violations such as denial of access to justice, unlawful arrest and detention, domestic and sexual violence, torture, and discrimination, among others,” Ojukwu said.
He stated that the North-West region followed the North-Central with 73,167 cases, while the North-East recorded 69,973. The South-East reported 46,409 cases, the South-South had 14,144, and the South-West recorded the lowest with 13,962 complaints.
Ojukwu explained that the Commission’s nationwide offices serve as observatories for human rights conditions across the country, helping to investigate, mediate, and refer cases where necessary.
“These numbers are not merely figures or trends but reflections of lost lives and denied liberties,” he said, emphasizing that the observatory report provided a broader understanding of emerging patterns of abuse nationwide.
He noted that the September findings revealed persistent and evolving threats to human rights across all six geo-political zones.
“The North-Central recorded the highest number of incidents, mainly linked to banditry, kidnapping, and road accidents. The North-West and North-East followed closely with cases of terror attacks, abductions, and sexual violence.
“The Southern zones experienced a mix of domestic violence, police abuses, mob actions, and fatal road accidents. Overall, violations of the right to life accounted for the majority of incidents, reflecting the toll of insecurity and preventable violence in our country,” Ojukwu added.
The NHRC said it remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights through strengthened monitoring, advocacy, and collaboration with security agencies and civil society partners across Nigeria.
