…Calls for Overhaul of Security Intelligence Framework
…Says Attack Violated Right to Life, State Duty to Protect Citizens
ABUJA – March 22, 2026
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned in strong terms the recent deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, describing it as a grave violation of the right to life and a clear failure of the State’s duty to protect its citizens.
The human rights body made the declaration at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where it deliberated extensively on the assault, which targeted communities in Gwoza Local Government Area and surrounding settlements.
According to credible local reports, the insurgents, operating in large numbers, killed no fewer than 35 civilians, injured many others, and abducted several individuals. Eyewitness accounts also revealed that the attackers transported arms and ammunition using tricycles (keke), underscoring the alarming scale and coordination of the operation.
In a statement issued after the meeting, CDHR noted that the incident constitutes a clear violation of Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended) , which guarantees the right to life, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Geneva Conventions.
The council expressed deep concern over what it described as the apparent failure of national security intelligence to detect and prevent such a large-scale operation.
“This raises serious issues regarding the efficiency, coordination, and accountability of the country’s intelligence and security architecture, and points to a possible breach of the State’s duty to protect its citizens,” the statement read.
NEC Resolutions and Demands
Following its deliberations, the NEC resolved to call on the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the following actions:
1. Institute an independent, transparent, and time bound investigation into the intelligence and operational lapses surrounding the attack, with a view to ensuring public accountability.
2. Undertake a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s national security intelligence framework, including the adoption of modern surveillance technologies and strengthened inter-agency collaboration.
3. Ensure that all officers and institutions found culpable of negligence or dereliction of duty are held accountable in accordance with the law.
4. Provide urgent humanitarian assistance to affected communities, including emergency medical services, trauma counselling, and support for internally displaced persons.
5. Enhance the protection of civilians in conflict-prone areas through intelligence-driven deployment of security personnel and proactive security strategies.
6. Promote community-based intelligence gathering mechanisms that respect human rights and encourage cooperation between citizens and security agencies.
The rights group further urged relevant oversight institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission, to monitor developments and ensure that victims have access to justice and effective remedies.
“CDHR reiterates that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of the State. The recurrence of such attacks reflects an urgent need for decisive reforms and sustained commitment to safeguarding human security in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The Committee reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Borno State and all victims of insurgency, pledging to continue advocating for justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
Signed:
Comrade Debo Adeniran
President and Secretary to the CDHR Board of Trustees (BoT)
Comrade Deacon Jeremiah Onyibe
National Publicity Secretary, CDHR
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