Agency report
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday disclosed that November recorded the highest number of abductions in recent times.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), made this known during the presentation of the November edition of the NHRC dashboard in Abuja.
“Every month, we gather here to share the state of human rights in our nation, but this month’s report hits especially hard,” Ojukwu said.
He revealed that the Commission received 422,942 complaints in November, stressing that behind each figure lies a real person, a real family, and a real story. “These aren’t just numbers on paper. They are cries for help. In November alone, we recorded over 800 abductions. Think about that for a moment – hundreds of mothers, fathers, and children taken away,” he lamented.
Ojukwu noted that among the victims were more than 55 farmers kidnapped directly from their farmlands, as well as travellers dragged off highways, students abducted from classrooms, and worshippers taken during prayers.
“These attacks cut deep. They strike at the very heart of who we are as a people. November was particularly sobering, with the most cases of abductions since Chibok. The kidnappings of school children in Maga and Papiri in Kebbi and Niger States respectively call for national retrospection and urgent action,” he stated.
He emphasized that education is not just a right but a cornerstone of human civilization, through which societies can overcome violent extremism, poverty, and inequality.
Ojukwu further lamented the worsening insecurity across communities, noting that entire villages now live in fear, families sleep with one eye open, and people are afraid to travel, farm, or send their children to school.
“This is not the Nigeria we want to leave for the next generation. When we look at all these violations together, a painful pattern becomes clear: impunity is growing. Too many people commit crimes believing nothing will happen to them,” he warned.
He also expressed concern over what he described as “shrinking civic space,” with women and children bearing the brunt of violence and communities living in fear day after day.
“These are not isolated incidents. They are signs of deeper problems – problems that require courage, honesty, and collective action to solve. The Commission is doing everything within its mandate to document these violations, engage with security agencies, and push for accountability. But we cannot do it alone,” Ojukwu concluded. NAN
