The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) is outraged and deeply shaken by the alarming rise in alleged extra‑judicial killings perpetrated by security operatives across Nigeria. The frequency and brazenness of these incidents—occurring within mere hours of each other—underscore a dangerous collapse of discipline, accountability, and respect for human life within the nation’s security institutions.

A Nation in Mourning—Two Lives Cut Short in One Day

CHRICED is particularly distressed by two harrowing incidents that have once again thrust Nigeria into the global spotlight for the wrong reasons.

On April 26, 2026, a young National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member was reportedly gunned down inside his father’s compound in Dei‑Dei, Abuja, by personnel attached to a military brigade guard. While initial military statements attempted to frame the killing as a crossfire incident, eyewitnesses have reportedly contradicted this narrative, alleging that the officer later admitted the shooting was a “mistake.” A mistake that ended a promising life. A mistake that no family should ever have to endure.

On that same day in Effurun, Delta State, Nigerians watched in horror as a police officer—captured on video—allegedly shot a young civilian in broad daylight over a suspected waybill parcel. The footage has ignited widespread outrage, reopening deep wounds about the unchecked brutality that citizens continue to face at the hands of those sworn to protect them.

A Disturbing Pattern—Not Isolated Incidents

CHRICED strongly asserts that these killings are not random or isolated. They form part of a persistent and deadly pattern of state violence that Nigerians have protested for years. The organization recalls that similar abuses triggered the historic #EndSARS movement, where young Nigerians demanded justice, dignity, and sweeping reforms of the security sector.

Despite public commitments, MOUs, and reform promises made in the aftermath of those protests, the reality on the ground shows that little has changed. The killings continue. The impunity deepens. The promises remain unfulfilled.

During the #EndBadGovernance protests of 2024, Amnesty International documented that at least 24 Nigerians were killed by police using excessive force. These were citizens exercising their democratic right to protest economic hardship. Their lives were cut short, and their families left with grief instead of justice.

Reform Without Accountability Is Empty

CHRICED is alarmed that, despite ongoing misconduct, proposals are underway to recruit 50,000 additional police personnel—one of the largest recruitment drives in Nigeria’s history. While expanding the force may be necessary, doing so without rigorous vetting, human‑rights‑based training, and value reorientation risks multiplying the very abuses Nigerians are already suffering.

A democratic society cannot survive when security operatives assume the roles of investigator, judge, and executioner. Every suspect—regardless of allegation—is entitled to due process. No uniform confers the right to take a life unlawfully.

Impunity Thrives When Justice Is Negotiated Away

CHRICED is gravely concerned about recurring reports that families of victims are sometimes pressured by senior security officials, religious leaders, or community actors to “settle,” withdraw cases, or abandon their pursuit of justice. Such practices are an assault on the rule of law and a betrayal of the victims whose lives were stolen.

Justice cannot be negotiated. It cannot be buried. It cannot be silenced.

A Call for State‑Led Justice—Not Family‑Led Struggle

CHRICED calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to treat every alleged extra‑judicial killing as a matter of national urgency and public interest. Investigations must be independent, transparent, and time‑bound, with full prosecution of any officer found culpable.

Families who have already suffered unimaginable loss should not be forced to fight alone for justice. The state must shoulder this responsibility.

CHRICED’s Recommendations

To break this cycle of violence and impunity, CHRICED demands:

• Immediate, transparent, and independent investigations into all alleged extra‑judicial killings.
• Full prosecution of all offenders, regardless of rank or influence.
• Comprehensive reform of security training curricula to prioritize human rights, rules of engagement, and community policing.
• Strengthened oversight mechanisms, including civilian complaint channels and independent accountability bodies.
• Mandatory psychological evaluation and continuous professional development for armed personnel.
• Public disclosure of investigation outcomes to rebuild trust between citizens and security institutions.

Nigeria Must Choose Life Over Violence

CHRICED reaffirms that the sanctity of human life is non‑negotiable. Every killing erodes public trust, weakens democracy, and pushes the nation further into fear and instability. Nigeria cannot continue on this path.

These incidents must not fade from public memory. They must not be swept aside by time or silence. Only through sustained pressure, transparent justice, and genuine institutional reform can Nigeria break free from this deadly cycle and uphold the values of justice, democracy, and human rights.

Signed,
Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi
Executive Director