The offices of several United Nations Special Rapporteurs have formally queried the Federal Government of Nigeria over allegations of serious human rights violations in the country’s Middle Belt region. This development has heightened international scrutiny of the prolonged violence that has plagued the area.
Details of the Query
The query was contained in a statement issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, alongside other mandates focusing on the rights to food, adequate housing, and related issues. It followed a 2025 Joint Urgent Appeal submitted by eyeWitness to Atrocities and the International Committee of Nigeria (ICON).
eyeWitness, founded by the International Bar Association (IBA), stated that the appeal was supported by digital evidence documenting alleged unlawful killings, displacement, and destruction across affected communities in the Middle Belt.
Reactions from Key Figures
Carrie Bowker, Director of eyeWitness, emphasized that the decision by multiple UN Special Rapporteurs to engage the Nigerian government reflected the seriousness of the allegations. “The evidence securely captured using the eyeWitness app by ICON and local documenters reflects the experiences of communities who have endured years of violence, displacement, and loss. Meaningful investigations and accountability are now essential,” Bowker said.
Lawrence Zongo, an ICON documenter, described the communication as recognition of the organization’s efforts to systematically document violence in pursuit of justice for affected communities.
Requests from UN Experts
In the communication, the UN experts requested detailed information from Nigerian authorities on measures taken at the federal and state levels to investigate and prosecute alleged perpetrators of unlawful killings and other abuses. They also sought clarification on efforts to ensure accountability for attacks allegedly carried out by non-state actors, allegations that security agencies failed to adequately protect civilians, and measures to support internally displaced persons and other affected communities.
The query underscores the growing international concern over the situation in the Middle Belt, where years of communal clashes and farmer-herder conflicts have resulted in widespread human suffering. The UN rapporteurs have called for urgent action to address the root causes of the violence and to ensure justice for victims.
