The offices of several United Nations Special Rapporteurs have formally contacted the Government of Nigeria over allegations of serious human rights violations in the country's Middle Belt region, marking a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the ongoing violence.
The communication - issued by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions , alongside mandates focused on the right to food, adequate housing and others - follows a 2025 Joint Urgent Appeal submitted to the UN by eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness), founded by the International Bar Association (IBA), and the International Committee of Nigeria (ICON).
Carrie Bowker, Director of eyeWitness commented: 'The decision by multiple UN Special Rapporteurs to formally engage the Nigerian government demonstrates the gravity of the allegations emerging from the Middle Belt. 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.'
Lawrence Zongo, an ICON documenter said: 'We welcome the UN Special Rapporteurs' communication to the Nigerian government, which was informed by evidence collected by ICON. This underscores the important work ICON is doing to methodically document violence to pursue justice for communities in Nigeria.'
UN-appointed experts demand answers from Nigerian authorities
In their communication, the Special Rapporteurs requested detailed information from the Nigerian government on measures taken at both the federal and state levels to:
- investigate and prosecute alleged perpetrators of unlawful killings and other abuses;
- ensure accountability for alleged attacks carried out by non-state actors;
- address allegations that security forces failed to adequately protect civilians;
- provide protection, rehabilitation and support to affected communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs); and
- tackle the root causes of the violence and its disproportionate impact on women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The UN experts also sought information regarding the destruction of homes, livelihoods and civilian infrastructure linked to the violence across the Middle Belt region.
Evidence captured by ICON using the eyeWitness app
The October 2025 Joint Urgent Appeal submitted by eyeWitness and ICON drew international attention to allegations of unlawful killings and other serious human rights concerns in Nigeria. The submission was supported by extensive evidence, including:
- 3,276 items of footage captured by between January 2022 and March 2025 using the eyeWitness app;
- witness interviews;
- documenters' notes; and
- corroborating open-source research.
The evidence documented alleged attacks affecting civilians and communities across the region, including killings, displacement and widespread destruction of homes.
Human cost at the centre
The Joint Urgent Appeal underscored the devastating human impact of the violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt, where families have reportedly lost relatives, homes and livelihoods, and entire communities have been displaced.
The submission called on the Special Rapporteurs to press the Nigerian government for updates on efforts to:
- investigate and prosecute perpetrators;
- provide rehabilitation and redress for victims; and
- implement meaningful measures to prevent further violence.
Calls for cooperation and accountability
eyeWitness urges the Nigerian government to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteurs' offices, respond substantively to the communication and take immediate steps to uphold its obligations under international human rights law. The organisation also calls on regional and international stakeholders to maintain their close monitoring of developments and continue supporting efforts toward justice, accountability and protection for affected communities.
eyeWitness to Atrocities, founded by the IBA to support the safe and secure documentation of international crimes and serious human rights violations, helped preserve and verify digital evidence submitted as part of the Urgent Appeal.
Claudio Visco, President of the IBA, stated: 'Behind every piece of footage is a family, a destroyed home, or a life lost. The communication from the experts appointed by the United Nations sends a clear message that allegations of serious human rights violations in Nigeria's Middle Belt cannot remain invisible. Survivors and affected communities deserve protection, justice and sustained international attention.'
