The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday said it recorded an upsurge in the number of child abandonment cases reported to it in October.

The senior human rights adviser to the executive secretary of NHRC, Hilary Ogbonna, made this known at the presentation of the commission’s October Dashboard report.

Mr Ogbonna said it is worrisome to know that the cases concerning children are seen to be going up each month.

“In October, we recorded over 1,300 cases of child abandonment. And it’s important that we understand that the violation of children’s rights may not just be child abandonment alone,” said Mr Ogbonna.

He said the commission sees abandonment as the highest form of vulnerability children face, noting, “And with that comes secondary, ancillary, and tertiary human rights violations.”

“But look at child marriage. Look at harmful traditional practices. Look at also trafficking. Right to survival and development as enshrined in the Child Rights Act,” he lamented.

He said the states in focus are Zamfara, which recorded 70 kidnappings and Anambra, with 20 cult-related killings.

Mr Ogbonna added that Sokoto State suffered the emergence of a new terrorist group named Lakawura and Jigawa, with 167 deaths as a result of the oil explosion.

Earlier, the commission’s executive secretary, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), expressed concern over the number of violations recorded in October, an increase from September cases.

“In October, the commission received 427,606 complaints from its 38 offices nationwide.

“One of the most notable trends this month is the widespread abuse of freedom from discrimination, which emerged as the most frequently reported violation.

“The challenge, then, is not just to acknowledge this issue but to take decisive action to dismantle these barriers and ensure equal treatment for all Nigerians, regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, or status,” he said.

According to Mr Ojukwu, the dashboard is not merely a collection of data; it is a call to action and a powerful tool for advocacy.

“We have seen how our findings have not only captured the attention of stakeholders but have also triggered meaningful discussions and actions on pressing human rights issues.

“As we continue to expand this initiative, we remain resolute in our mission to chart the way forward for Nigeria’s human rights landscape,” he said.

(NAN)