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NHRC Calls for Justice-Based Solution to Africa’s Conflicts
By Our Reporter
Abuja (Core Reporters) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for a shift from military-centric responses to a holistic, justice-driven approach to tackling insecurity, conflict and economic instability across Africa.
The Commission made the call in a paper presented at the 2026 African Bar Association Conference in Cape Verde, themed “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development.”
The paper, titled “Legal Mechanisms to Ensure Access to Justice in Regions Affected by Security Threats,” examined Nigeria’s North-East insurgency and the farmer-herder crisis in Benue State as case studies.
According to the NHRC, persistent insecurity on the continent cannot be addressed through military interventions alone, stressing the need to strengthen legal institutions and guarantee access to justice for victims of conflict.
The Commission identified several gaps in Nigeria’s justice system, including the non-justiciability of socio-economic rights under Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, the non-binding nature of decisions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, restrictions on access to the African Court under Article 34(6), and what it described as the predominantly punitive focus of the Terrorism Act 2022.
The NHRC also linked terrorism and rural conflicts to underlying socio-economic challenges, including poverty, youth unemployment, marginalisation and weak governance.
It disclosed that its data recorded 530 cases involving denial of food and shelter, 195 cases of gender-based violence and 324 cases involving barriers to education, while 1,850 internally displaced persons were recorded in Benue State alone.
NHRC Details Interventions
The Commission said it had undertaken several interventions aimed at strengthening access to justice and addressing human rights violations in conflict-affected communities.
It cited its monitoring of terrorism trials at Kainji in 2024, where it observed gaps relating to due process, as well as its Transitional Justice Programme in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, implemented with the support of the European Union and United Nations Development Programme.
Under the programme, the NHRC said it had resolved 372 cases, referred 1,157 cases and conducted 331 outreach activities in internally displaced persons’ camps.
On the Commission’s investigation into the alleged Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and other violations under the North-East intervention programme, the paper clarified that its investigation found no evidence to substantiate claims of a systematic abortion of 10,000 pregnancies.
It, however, confirmed that a military attack on Abisari community on June 18, 2016, resulted in the death of 18 people.
The Commission consequently recommended compensation for victims and prosecution where appropriate.
ECOWAS Court Judgments
The paper also referenced judgments of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in suits ECW/CCJ/APP/11/16 and ECW/CCJ/APP/16/18, which ordered Nigeria to investigate killings in Benue State and provide redress to victims.
The NHRC said the decisions underscored the need for stronger implementation of regional human rights obligations and effective remedies for victims of conflict.
Four-Pillar Justice Model
To address what it described as the justice gap in conflict-affected regions, the Commission proposed a four-pillar model comprising enforceable socio-economic rights, specialised mobile Conflict Resolution Courts, recognition of alternative dispute resolution and traditional mechanisms, and the establishment of a National Dignity Fund for reparations.
It further recommended constitutional amendments to strengthen the enforceability of socio-economic rights, the establishment of special courts to handle conflict-related disputes, ratification of the declaration allowing individuals and non-governmental organisations direct access to the African Court, and implementation of relevant ECOWAS Court and SIIP decisions.
The Commission stressed that sustainable development and peace could not be achieved without strong and resilient legal institutions.
