Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to adopt more effective strategies to safeguard lives and property, following renewed attacks on rural communities in Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara States.
The organization warned that “gunmen are on a rampage in the northern part of the country”, lamenting the worsening insecurity despite repeated government assurances.
In its latest report, Amnesty International said investigations revealed that armed men launched deadly assaults on several villages between Friday and Tuesday, killing dozens and displacing many.
“On Tuesday, gunmen killed 13 persons in separate attacks on Rachas village in Heipang District and Rawuru village in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State,” the group stated.
It added that “on Friday, around 4:00 pm, gunmen killed at least nine persons in an attack on Layin Danauta Kuyello, Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State,” while several others were abducted and shops looted.
In Zamfara, “dozens of worshippers were abducted by gunmen at a mosque at Maradawa, Gusau LGA,” the report further revealed.
The organization faulted the government’s handling of the crisis, saying the security approach had failed to yield results.
“The President claims to have repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killings so that rural communities can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly, nothing has changed,” Amnesty stated.
“No perpetrators have been brought to justice, leaving communities feeling completely exposed.”
Amnesty International also renewed its campaign demanding the whereabouts of Emmanuel Ikechukwu, a photographer and father of three, allegedly abducted by security agents from his shop at Aba-Ngwa-Ngwa Road, Aba, Abia State, on July 8, 2021, over alleged IPOB ties.
His family has not heard from him since.
An eyewitness recounted the incident: “They came in a vehicle, about six of them, dressed like police officers, but with their faces covered. They picked him up around 3 pm in broad daylight. We checked police stations and prisons but couldn’t find him,” he said.
Amnesty has since launched a petition demanding justice for Ikechukwu and an end to what it described as “unlawful killings and impunity in southeast Nigeria.”
It urged the public to support the campaign and pressure authorities to act decisively.
Speaking on the broader insecurity, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Executive Director, Isa Sanusi, noted that peace in the southeast remains fragile.
“Hundreds of Nigerians remain missing or unlawfully detained. The government must ensure their release or charge them to court. True peace can only thrive when justice is done,” he emphasized.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh