Amnesty International Nigeria has said at least 10,217 people were killed in attacks by gunmen in Benue, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara States during the first two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement posted on its official social media handles, saying Benue recorded the highest death toll, followed by Plateau State, where 2,630 people were killed.
Amnesty International said it was now more than three years since Tinubu assumed office with a promise to improve security, but accused the government of failing to protect Nigerians.
“It is now over three years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse,” the organisation said.
It added that 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 Amnesty International, new armed groups have also escalated attacks since the Tinubu administration came to power, citing Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi states and Mamuda in Kwara State.
It said hundreds of villages had also been sacked by gunmen in Benue, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau and Zamfara states.
The organisation warned that the escalating attacks were creating “a looming humanitarian crisis,” with displaced persons struggling to survive.
“The majority of those displaced in Plateau and Katsina states told Amnesty International that they had to resort to begging to survive daily life,” it said.
Amnesty International also cited the situation in Dangulbi District of Zamfara State, where farmers allegedly could not transport their produce to markets because of banditry.
“At Dangulbi district of Zamfara state, farmers have to watch their harvest of sweet potatoes rot because bandits have prevented them from transporting them to the nearest market,” it said.
The rights organisation stressed that the Nigerian authorities had an obligation under international human rights law to protect lives and ensure accountability for killings.
“Under international human rights law, the authorities have obligation to protect lives and ensure that those suspected of perpetrating these killings are held to account, as well as to provide victims with access to justice and effective remedies,” it said.
Amnesty International added: “Again and again, the Nigerian authorities are failing to live up to these obligations.”
