The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reported that non-state actors killed 1,463 people and kidnapped 1,172 Nigerians between January and September 2024.

According to data from the commission, May recorded the highest number of killings, with 298 deaths, while March saw the most abductions, with 499 reported kidnappings.

These figures were presented on Wednesday at a workshop on the state of human rights in Nigeria, organised by the NHRC in collaboration with the European Union, in Abuja.

In his address, NHRC Senior Human Rights Adviser, Hillary Ogbonna, highlighted the alarming increase in human rights abuses, including kidnappings, killings, and child abandonment.

“By January 2024, there were already 150 kidnappings and 55 killings, primarily involving non-state actors. The trend of killing law enforcement officers has become the norm,” he noted. “In January alone, we recorded the deaths of seven policemen, with a significant number of other victims of human rights violations.”

The NHRC attributed the rise in kidnappings, killings, and child abandonment to the state’s failure to adequately protect its citizens.

“In recent years, we have witnessed alarming threats against those who speak truth to power. This serves as a stark reminder that protecting human rights is an ongoing struggle requiring continuous vigilance, action, and cooperation from all sectors of society,” said NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu.

A delegation from the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in overcoming these challenges, urging the Federal Government to work with the armed forces to put an end to the trend.

“The European Union will continue to work globally through diplomacy,” stated Zissimos Vergos, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria.