Maha Christopher
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter over Nigeria’s escalating insecurity crisis.
According to The Punch, SERAP made the appeal in an open letter dated May 30, 2026, urging the UN chief to bring the situation in Nigeria before the Security Council for urgent consideration.
The organisation said the country’s worsening security challenges, including mass abductions, killings, attacks on civilians and widespread displacement, now pose a threat to international peace and security.
“Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and grave human rights violations are reflected in repeated abductions, killings, attacks on civilians, and mass displacement in Oyo, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, and several other parts of the country,” SERAP stated.
The rights group argued that the scale and persistence of violence across several states have transformed the crisis from a domestic issue into one with regional implications.
“The scale, persistence, and regional implications of the insecurity and grave human rights crisis in Nigeria pose a threat to international peace and security,” it added.
SERAP said Article 99 of the UN Charter was specifically created for situations requiring urgent preventive diplomacy and coordinated international action.
The organisation cited recent incidents, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, attacks on students and travellers in Benue State, bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, and deadly raids in Katsina and Adamawa states, as evidence of the deteriorating security situation.
It warned that the continued violence has resulted in widespread humanitarian suffering, displacement, and growing instability across parts of West Africa.
“The crisis in Nigeria is not merely a domestic law-enforcement issue,” SERAP said, noting that the cross-border movement of armed groups and displaced persons has broader regional consequences.
The organisation called on the UN Secretary-General to place Nigeria’s insecurity crisis before the Security Council, seek regular briefings on attacks and displacement, and support stronger international monitoring of the humanitarian situation.
SERAP also advocated enhanced civilian protection measures, independent investigations into attacks, accountability for perpetrators, and greater international support to prevent further escalation of violence.
The appeal comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with recurring kidnappings, rural attacks, and insurgent activities in several parts of the country, raising concerns over the safety of citizens and the country’s security outlook.
