Amnesty International has warned that Katsina State is edging toward a humanitarian disaster due to widespread insecurity, mass displacement, and escalating child malnutrition.
In a statement on its social media platform, the organisation said, “Large-scale displacement as a result of frequent attacks by bandits and other armed groups has been pushing Katsina State to the brink of a humanitarian disaster.”
It added that both federal and state authorities must urgently act, stating that “The Nigerian authorities and Katsina State Government must address rampant insecurity that is displacing more people and depriving thousands of a dignified life.”
The group cited findings from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which reported that 652 children died from malnutrition in the first half of the year, with more fatalities recorded daily.
According to the statement, “Mothers watch helplessly as their children die every day. In the absence of effective humanitarian support, people live in the anguish of not being able to afford basic necessities.”
Amnesty said insecurity has affected 13 of the 34 local government areas, leaving residents exposed to attacks, looting, and abductions, and limiting access to food, health care, water, and shelter.
It also referenced UNICEF’s figure of 300,000 out-of-school children in the state, with many more in Dandume, Jibiya, Safana, Batsari, Faskari, Funtua, and Kankia facing severe malnutrition.
Amnesty International called on authorities to act decisively, saying, “Both the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government must effectively end the incessant violence unleashed on rural communities.”