Amnesty International has disclosed that at least 10,217 people were killed in attacks by gunmen across seven Nigerian states during the first two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The affected states are Borno, Benue, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara, according to a statement issued by the human rights organisation on Monday.
Amnesty said Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths, followed by Plateau State, where it said 2,630 people were killed.
The organisation criticised the government’s handling of the country’s worsening security situation, saying authorities had failed to adequately protect citizens from armed attacks.
“It is now over three years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse,” Amnesty said.
The rights group also reported the emergence of new armed groups, including Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi states and Mamuda in Kwara State.
It further said hundreds of villages had been attacked or deserted due to violence in Benue, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau and Zamfara states.
Amnesty warned that the continued attacks were creating a looming humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people displaced from their homes and struggling to survive.
According to the organisation, many displaced residents in Plateau and Katsina states told its officials that they had resorted to begging to meet their daily needs.
It also highlighted the situation in Dangulbi district of Zamfara State, where farmers were reportedly unable to transport their harvested crops to markets because of bandit attacks, forcing some produce to rot.
Amnesty International said the Nigerian authorities have obligations under international human rights law to protect lives, investigate killings, ensure suspected perpetrators are brought to justice and provide victims with effective remedies.
“Again and again, the Nigerian authorities are failing to live up to these obligations,” the organisation stated.
The group urged the authorities to take urgent measures to protect communities and address the growing humanitarian and security challenges caused by armed violence.
