Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect its citizens.
Expressing concern over what it called the Nigerian government’s growing inability to protect rural communities in the northern regions, where hundreds have been killed by violent armed groups, the global rights body noted that in spite of repeated assurances from President Bola Tinubu and security officials, the violence persists, leaving citizens vulnerable to relentless attacks and kidnappings.
The international human rights organization reported that in states such as Benue, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, and Zamfara, heavily armed groups continue to terrorize villages—killing, raping, burning homes, stealing livestock, and abducting residents for ransom.
Amnesty International highlighted the devastating impact of this violence, noting that it has displaced thousands, with over 200,000 people in Katsina State alone forced to flee their homes. In Zamfara, more than 150 villages have been abandoned, and in Plateau State, over 1,336 people were killed between December 2023 and February 2024.
The organization warned that the ongoing violence is pushing these regions to the brink of a humanitarian crisis, with the government’s failure to address the bloodshed resulting in significant loss of life and livelihood. Amnesty International cautioned that without immediate and effective action, the situation will deteriorate further, underscoring the government’s failure to fulfill its fundamental duty to protect its citizens.
