By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday reported alarming figures indicating a sharp increase in the number of displaced girls and women across Nigeria, alongside a rise in human rights violations.
Mr. Benedict Agu who represented the Executive Secretary, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), disclosed this while reading the Dashboard on Human Rights Situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons covering August and September 2025.
The NHRC revealed that 17,097 girls and 20,705 women have been displaced in regions covered by the Commission’s monitoring project. Additionally, the Commission documented 1,039 cases of human rights violations, including those affecting asylum seekers, displaced families, and vulnerable communities.
Mr. Agu stated that the data was gathered through fieldwork involving awareness campaigns, household interviews, and monitoring activities conducted by staff on the ground. The report underscores growing concern over worsening conditions in displacement camps and host communities.
According to him, key challenges identified include limited access to essential services such as shelter, healthcare, and education—especially for women and girls. Analysts warned that if current trends persist, the figures for October are likely to show even higher levels of displacement and rights violations.
The NHRC stressed the need for improved coordination among humanitarian agencies, local authorities, and the international community. It reiterated its commitment to monitoring, protecting, and promoting human rights, while urging stakeholders to act swiftly in response to the deepening crisis.
The human rights briefing highlighted a significant surge in the number of refugee and internally displaced (IDP) children recorded in September, marking it as the month with the highest figures this year.
According to the report, over 6,000 IDP children were documented, raising serious concerns among humanitarian organizations working in affected communities. The briefing also noted an alarming increase in cases of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence, particularly impacting displaced women and children.
Access to education and socio-economic opportunities remains a major issue, the report added. The data shows that many children and young people, especially girls, face significant barriers to schooling, while displaced families continue to struggle with limited access to basic services.
Community-based interventions, including household surveys, awareness sessions, and educational outreach, have been launched by both local and international partners to address these growing challenges. These efforts aim to restore dignity and rights by improving access to education, protection services, and legal support for asylum seekers.
The human rights body emphasized the urgent need for stronger cooperation from host community authorities and called for immediate policy actions to safeguard the rights, safety, and well-being of all displaced individuals, particularly vulnerable women and children.
