The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised alarm over a dramatic surge in human rights violations across Nigeria, revealing that it received a staggering 261,483 complaints in April 2025 alone.

NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu (SAN) disclosed this on Friday while expressing grave concern about the escalating violence, particularly in the Middle Belt region, which recorded the highest number of killings nationwide.

"In April 2025, there were 261,483 complaints. Why this number is significant: it represents only the visible portion of a much deeper situation," Ojukwu stated.

According to the Commission's data, killings and kidnappings emerged as the most prevalent forms of human rights abuses during the month, with Benue, Plateau, and Borno states identified as the epicenters of the crisis.

"The killings in Plateau and Benue states, as well as the resurgence of Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks in Borno, have left hundreds of citizens injured and dead," Ojukwu explained. "The crisis in the Middle Belt is not new but has continued for decades without a solution."

The NHRC report highlighted that the Middle Belt region alone accounted for 60 percent of all killings recorded nationwide in April. Complaints from this region constituted 35 percent of the national total, marking a 20 percent increase from March 2025.

While the Commission successfully concluded 863 complaints and petitions related to human rights violations during this period, Ojukwu emphasized that the surge in cases far outweighs what is being addressed.

The NHRC chief called for urgent intervention from all levels of government to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses.

"We call for independent, impartial, prompt investigation of all the cases stated. Support services for all victims. Accountability for all perpetrators. Sustained investment in all peacebuilding," he urged.

Reiterating the Commission's stance, Ojukwu added: "The right to life is non-negotiable. It must be protected at all costs."

He further urged the media, civil society organizations, and the international community to amplify the voices of victims and ensure sustained pressure for justice and reform in addressing the human rights crisis facing the nation.