By George Ozalla
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Federal Government to deepen collaboration with international partners to halt the wave of killings across Nigeria, warning that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are driving an agenda to Islamise the country.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made the call during the presentation of the Commission’s October 2025 dashboard in Abuja, where he disclosed that the NHRC had received over 406,000 complaints of human rights abuses from across the country. He said the pattern of killings, particularly in the North-East, had shown the relentless push by terror groups to impose extremist ideology through violence and fear.
Ojukwu noted that the NHRC would continue to engage the government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and other partners in strengthening human rights protection mechanisms. He commended the media for its role in promoting accountability and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and united against forces threatening the country’s cohesion.
He said the Commission remained steadfast in its mission to safeguard the rights and dignity of all citizens, stressing that human life must be protected above every other consideration.
The event was attended by representatives of the European Union, British Council, Australian High Commission, Police Service Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, and other stakeholders committed to promoting peace and justice in Nigeria.
Nigeria has endured waves of violence over the years, with the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions. The group, which seeks to replace Nigeria’s secular system with an Islamic state, later splintered, giving rise to ISWAP, which intensified attacks across the North-East. Beyond the insurgency, the North-West and North-Central have also faced deadly raids, kidnappings, and communal clashes that have devastated entire communities.
The NHRC’s renewed appeal highlights the urgency of a coordinated national and international response to curb the persistent killings and restore lasting peace across the country.
