Thursday, May 29, 2025 - More than 10,217 people have been killed in violent attacks across several Nigerian states since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office two years ago.
This was contained in a new report by Amnesty International
released on Thursday, on its official website.
The international human rights group described the Nigerian
authorities’ inability to address insecurity as shocking.
The group warned that the failure to protect citizens has
led to mass killings, abductions, and a humanitarian crisis across Benue,
Zamfara, Plateau, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Edo, and Borno states.
“Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu
assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only
gotten worse, as the authorities continue to fail to protect the rights to
life, physical integrity, liberty and the security of tens of thousands of
people across the country,” said Isa Sanusi, Director Amnesty International
Nigeria.
“President Tinubu must fulfill his promises to Nigerians and
urgently address the resurgence of the nation’s endemic security crisis. The
recent escalation of attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups shows that
the security measures implemented by President Tinubu’s government are simply
not working.
“In the two years since President Bola Tinubu’s government
assumed power, new armed groups have emerged including Lakurawa in Sokoto and
Kebbi state, and Mamuda in Kwara state, while hundreds of villages have been
sacked by gunmen in Benue, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau and Zamfara,” he
added.
“The authorities continue to fail to protect the rights to
life, physical integrity, liberty, and the security of tens of thousands of
people across the country.”
According to the report, Benue State recorded the highest
number of killings with 6,896 deaths, followed by Plateau State with 2,630
deaths.
In Zamfara State alone, over 273 people were killed and 467
abducted, with attacks occurring almost daily.
The group further revealed that 638 villages have been
sacked, and 725 others remain under the control of bandits across 13 local
government areas of Zamfara.
In Katsina State, the report verified the killing of over
294 people and the abduction of 306, mostly women and girls, between May 2023
and May 2025.
In Benue and Plateau, the group highlighted the destruction
of boreholes, clinics, schools, grain reserves, and places of worship by
gunmen.
They also confirmed that 450,000 people in Benue and 65,000
in Plateau have become internally displaced, with some IDP camps also targeted
by attackers.
Amnesty also expressed concern about the rise of new armed
groups such as Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi, and Mamuda in Kwara, alongside
coordinated killings by herders in rural communities.
“These attacks deprive people of their right to life while
the survivors are deprived of their livelihood,” said Isa Sanusi.
Between 9 and 11 May, gunmen sacked four villages of Isa
local government area of Sokoto state. The affected communities are: Bafarawa,
Gebe, Kamarawa, Garin Fadama and Haruwai. People of these villages are now
displaced and struggle to feed daily.
The report further revealed that the residents of villages
in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states told Amnesty International that gunmen
also impose levies on them via phone calls, with the warning that failure to
pay by a given deadline will be punished with death.
The group called on the Nigerian government to match their
words with serious and concrete action to end the violence, bring perpetrators
to justice, and provide relief to victims.
“The authorities’ failure to hold suspected perpetrators
accountable is fueling a cycle of impunity that is making everyone feel
unsafe,” Sanusi said.
“Time is running out, as gunmen, bandits, and insurgents
ramp up attacks daily. The nationwide bloodshed must end now,” he added.
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