Justice & Human Rights

Attacks on human rights are worsening in Nigeria. In its 2022 World Report, Human Right Watch, which reviews human rights trends and developments in more than 100 countries in the world, the organisation said the ban on Twitter in June 2021, was indicative of worsening human rights issues in Nigeria.

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Score Cards

123th

of the 128 Countries on the Human Freedom Index (as at 2021)

$800k

Cash worth USD$800,000 found in the homes of senior judges suspected of corruption. (Est. 2016, Department of State Services)

8.4

of 10 on the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index. 0 (high) - 10 (low)

99th

of the 128 Countries on the Fundamental Rights (2020)

75th

of the 128 Countries on the Civil Justice (2020)

76th

of the 128 Countries, Global Criminal Justice Index (2020)

94th

of 128 Countries on Open Government (2020)

129th

of 180 Countries on the Press Freedom Index (2022)

123th

of the 128 Countries on the Human Freedom Index (as at 2021)

$800k

Cash worth USD$800,000 found in the homes of senior judges suspected of corruption. (Est. 2016, Department of State Services)

8.4

of 10 on the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index. 0 (high) - 10 (low)

99th

of the 128 Countries on the Fundamental Rights (2020)

75th

of the 128 Countries on the Civil Justice (2020)

76th

of the 128 Countries, Global Criminal Justice Index (2020)

94th

of 128 Countries on Open Government (2020)

129th

of 180 Countries on the Press Freedom Index (2022)

Summary

The insurgency in the North East by the militant terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa conducted numerous attacks on government and civilian targets, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, numerous human rights abuses, widespread destruction, the internal displacement of more than three million persons, and the external displacement of more than an estimated 327,000 Nigerian refugees to neighboring countries as of the year’s end.

Significant human rights abuses included credible reports of: unlawful and arbitrary killings by both government and non-state actors; forced disappearances by the government, terrorists, and criminal groups; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government and terrorist groups; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious abuses in a conflict, including killings, and abductions.

There is also evident serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats against journalists and the existence of criminal libel laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; serious government corruption; lack of investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, including but not limited to domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting, and other harmful practices; crimes of violence targeting members of national/racial/ethnic minority groups; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.

Sources: HRW, CFR