Family members and clergy behind most of 2,755 cases of gender-based violence in four months — NHRC

… It says 1,255 cases are linked to relatives, 630 linked to religious leaders

…warns of “betrayal of trust” as violence rises nationwide

Daud Olatunji

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over a sharp increase in gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria, revealing that between January and April 2026, 2,755 cases were recorded nationwide.

The Commission said the figure, with an average of more than 20 incidents reported per day, signals a deepening crisis in the protection of women, girls and other vulnerable groups, with significant numbers of offenders found within homes and religious institutions.

The disclosure was made on Thursday in Abuja during a national consultative workshop on GBV and IPV programming under the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8), organized with the support of international development partners and Nigerian government agencies.

… Family and religious spaces emerge as important hotspots

According to the NHRC, 1,255 of the recorded cases were committed by family members, while 630 involved religious leaders.

The Commission described the findings as a “disturbing betrayal of trust”, warning that environments traditionally considered safe were increasingly becoming centers of abuse.

Officials have also linked the increase in cases to worsening insecurity across the country, including insurgencies in the northeast and banditry in other regions, which they say have increased the vulnerability of women and girls to exploitation and violence.

… “GBV is not just statistics” – NHRC

The NHRC executive secretary warned against treating gender-based violence as mere data, underlining the need for stronger prevention systems and better support services for survivors.

“We do not want to treat them as mere statistics or human rights data. Effective programming requires prevention systems, accessible reporting channels, quality health and psychosocial support services, legal protection and accountability for offenders,” the Commission said.

He added that weak institutional coordination and inadequate funding continue to weaken Nigeria’s national response to GBV.

… International partners warn of weak enforcement

The workshop brought together stakeholders including UNDP, UNAIDS, UNFPA, the Global Fund, as well as Nigeria’s Ministries of Justice, Health and Women.

Development partners noted that while Nigeria has a strong legal framework on GBV, enforcement remains weak and fragmented, allowing for widespread impunity.

UNAIDS country director Krittayawan Tina Boonto said official statistics likely represent only a fraction of actual cases, warning that underreporting remains a major challenge.

… Violence worsens burden of HIV and tuberculosis – Officials

Senior government officials have also expressed concern about the link between gender-based violence and the worsening burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Iseoluwa Rotimi, SAN, said structural barriers, stigma and discriminatory practices continue to discourage vulnerable groups from accessing healthcare.

He noted that key populations – less than 5% of Nigeria’s population – account for about 40% of new HIV infections, describing the trend as structure-driven.

Rotimi also warned that penitentiary facilities remain high-risk environments for tuberculosis transmission due to overcrowding and prolonged detention of suspects awaiting trial.

…Women living with HIV face double stigma

Onyinye Belinda Ndubuisi, UNDP gender officer, said women living with HIV continue to face discrimination, violence and social exclusion, particularly after diagnosis during antenatal care.

She said many women are forced into silence due to fear of stigma and accusations of infidelity.

“When a woman tests positive, fear sets in. Society quickly labels her, and that shouldn’t be the case,” she said.

Ndubuisi called for greater coordination between government institutions and development partners, stressing that gender-based violence must be treated as a structural challenge to development rather than a secondary issue.

Stakeholders at the workshop agreed that Nigeria’s GBV response remains underfunded, fragmented and poorly coordinated, warning that survivors continue to fall through institutional gaps.

They said the results of the consultation will feed into Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 submission, which will determine funding priorities for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes.

Participants also called for greater integration of GBV prevention into health systems, better forensic services for survivors, and greater support within correctional facilities.

They warned that without urgent reforms and measurable commitments, Nigeria risks exacerbating what they described as a “silent national emergency” of gender-based violence.

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