The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter and formally bring Nigeria's escalating insecurity before the UN Security Council. In an open letter dated May 30, 2026, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization argued that the rising violence across multiple states now threatens regional peace and security.
Scale of Violence
SERAP cited recurring incidents of mass abductions, killings, attacks on civilians, and large-scale displacement in states including Oyo, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara. According to the organization, "The scale, persistence, and regional implications of the insecurity and grave human rights crisis in Nigeria pose a threat to international peace and security and risk aggravating existing threats in the region."
Article 99 Invocation
The group noted that Article 99 empowers the UN Secretary-General to bring matters threatening international peace and security before the Security Council, designed for crises requiring urgent international attention and preventive action. "Several years of violence and conflicts in several states have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma across Nigeria," the letter stated.
Cross-Border Implications
SERAP argued that Nigeria's security challenges have evolved beyond a domestic law enforcement issue, pointing to cross-border movements of armed groups, widespread displacement, and weakening human rights institutions. The organization highlighted recent kidnappings in Oyo State, where armed men attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area and abducted pupils and teachers, demonstrating the growing vulnerability of schools, children, and education workers.
Humanitarian Emergency
The rights group also referenced attacks in Benue, Borno, Katsina, Adamawa, and other states, including bomb explosions, raids on rural communities, and abductions of travelers and residents. "Taken together, these incidents reflect an intensifying security crisis characterized by mass killings, abductions, and sustained attacks on rural communities," SERAP said. The organization warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating into a humanitarian emergency with potential consequences for stability across West Africa.
International Concerns
SERAP noted that senior UN officials have repeatedly expressed concern over insecurity in Nigeria, citing previous condemnations by Guterres and statements from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also pointed to warnings from UN humanitarian agencies that insecurity is worsening displacement, disrupting livelihoods, and deepening food insecurity.
Precedent from Gaza
SERAP argued that the UN Secretary-General's use of Article 99 in relation to the Gaza crisis demonstrated the importance of early intervention where national crises risk broader regional destabilization. The group further stated that under international human rights law, governments have a duty not only to avoid violations but also to prevent, investigate, and punish abuses committed by non-state actors.
Call for Action
The organization urged Guterres to place Nigeria's security situation before the Security Council without delay and encourage regular public briefings on insecurity and its humanitarian impact. It also called for systematic UN reporting on attacks and displacement, stronger protection for civilians, independent investigations into incidents of violence, accountability for perpetrators, and reparations for victims. SERAP further appealed to the international community to use all available diplomatic tools to prevent further escalation of the crisis and support efforts to protect lives across the country.
