This paper unravels the nature and consequences of human rights abuses in communities in Borno State, Nigeria. The study was prompted by the emergence of non-state volunteer groups (NSVGs), such as the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), who arose to fill a security vacuum created by the Boko Haram insurgency but have since been implicated in perpetrating abuses themselves. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study utilized both quantitative surveys (with 377 respondents selected via Cochran's formula) and qualitative methods (KIIs and FGDs) in three heavily affected LGAs: Bama, Monguno, and Gwoza. The findings reveal that NSVGs engage in a range of human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, physical assaults, extrajudicial killings, and sexual violence, which are often driven by a lack of proper training, oversight, and a culture of impunity. The study also identifies profound consequences of these abuses, which not only inflict physical and psychological trauma (such as PTSD and depression) on victims but also erode community trust, undermine social cohesion, and lead to violent conflict. The research concludes that while NSVGs play a critical role in counterterrorism, their unregulated conduct has detrimental effects on community stability and human rights. It recommends that governments and local stakeholders urgently implement robust monitoring teams and accountability mechanisms to ensure these groups operate within legal and ethical standards.