UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE RAISES ALARM OVER KILLINGS, ABDUCTIONS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

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Agency Report

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern over what it described as credible reports of killings, abductions, sexual violence and forced conversions targeting Christian and other religious minority communities in Nigeria, particularly in the northern and Middle Belt regions.

In a statement issued on Monday, the UN human rights office said the worsening security situation in parts of the country has enabled armed groups to operate with “severe consequences for civilians,” amid persistent allegations of impunity and weak protection mechanisms.

“These reports are deeply troubling,” the office said, adding that testimonies received from affected communities “paint a horrifying picture of fear, trauma, coercion and abandonment.”

The OHCHR noted that violence affecting religious minorities includes killings, attacks on places of worship, mass displacement and mob violence linked to blasphemy allegations.

It also raised particular concern about the vulnerability of women and girls, who it said face heightened risks of abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage and forced conversion.

“We are particularly alarmed at the very specific and heightened risks of discrimination, violence and exploitation that Christian women and girls are exposed to,” it stated.

According to the UN body, some reported incidents include abductions and sexual assaults of women, the disappearance of girls abducted from a church in Borno State, forced conversions and child marriage in Bauchi State, as well as attacks on minors linked to forced marriage attempts.

The office further warned that displaced persons remain at risk of exploitation, including being forced into sexual acts in exchange for food and basic necessities, while some victims reportedly conceal their religious identity for survival.

It stressed that, if confirmed, the allegations could constitute serious violations of international human rights law, including rights to life, security, freedom of religion, and protection from torture, slavery and trafficking.

The OHCHR urged Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to protect vulnerable populations, secure the release of abducted persons, conduct independent investigations and ensure prosecution of perpetrators.

It warned that continued impunity could fuel further violence and deepen insecurity in affected regions.