Nigeria: Mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups

Zawya

29-05-2025

At least 10,217 people killed in two years since government took power
Over 6,896 killed in Benue, at least 2,630 killed in Plateau
638 villages sacked by bandits in Zamfara state
Looming humanitarian crisis being ignored
The Nigerian authorities' shocking failure to protect lives and property from daily attacks by armed groups and bandits has cost thousands of lives and created a potential humanitarian crisis across many northern states, said Amnesty International.
A new investigation shows that, in the two years since the current government has been in power, at least 10,217 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau Sokoto and Zamfara state. Benue state accounts for the highest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed.
'Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse, as 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,' said Isa Sanusi, Director Amnesty International Nigeria.
'President Tinubu must fulfill his promises to Nigerians and urgently address the resurgence of the nation's endemic security crisis. The recent escalation of attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups shows that the security measures implemented by President Tinubu's government are simply not working.'
In the two years since President Bola Tinubu's government assumed power, new armed groups have emerged including Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi state, and Mamuda in Kwara state, while hundreds of villages have been sacked by gunmen in Benue, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau and Zamfara.
Mounting death toll
Since 29 May 2023, hundreds of people have been killed in rural areas where, our research since 2020 shows, a total absence of governance has given gunmen and criminal groups a free hand to commit atrocities.
Our investigation verified the killing of over 294 people in Katsina state and documented the abduction of 306 people, mostly women and girls, between May 2023 to May 2025.
In Zamfara state, attacks have occurred daily, with multiple attacks sometimes taking place in a single day. In the last two years, over 273 people have been killed and 467 people abducted. Since the beginning of the security crisis, bandits have sacked 638 villages across while 725 villages are under the control of bandits, across 13 local governments of Zamfara state.
Maru local government area also witnessed escalating attacks, including one on a mining site at Gobirawar Chali on 24 April 2025 in which over 20 miners were killed. The emergence of Lakurawa opened a new frontier of bloodshed in Kebbi state where at least 70 people were killed in 22 attacks.
Impunity in Benue and Plateau
The attacks in Benue and Plateau state were particularly vicious. During the 3 April attack on Bokkos local government of Plateau state, many people including children and entire families were brutally killed. In Benue state, the gunmen, ensured that after killing people, they also destroy bore holes, clinics and schools. During the attacks on communities in Ukum and Logo local government Amnesty International gathered evidence that grain reserves and places of worship were also destroyed.
Amnesty International's findings show that all 23 local government areas of Benue state suffered such attacks, with more frequent attacks on Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Gwer West, Gwer East, Apa and Agatu local government areas. Over 200 villages have been sacked by gunmen across Benue state.
These attacks have triggered a wave of displacement with 450,000 people documented as internally displaced people.
In Plateau state, armed herders carried out 38 attacks. Between 27 March and 2 April 2025, coordinated attacks took place against five communities: Daffo, Gwande, Hurti, Manguna, and Ruwi in Bokkos local government. In the past two years, 167 rural communities were attacked in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Jos East, Jos South, Mangu, Riyom and Wase local government areas.
As a result of these attacks, 65,000 people have been internally displaced. Some communities, in both Benue and Plateau, have been displaced more than once, after IDP camps were also attacked.
Looming humanitarian crisis
The majority, if not all of those affected by these attacks, are farmers, whose displacement means they can no longer cultivate their farms. This is causing a looming humanitarian crisis. The majority of those displaced in Plateau and Katsina states told Amnesty International that they had to resort to begging to survive daily life. 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.
'These attacks deprive people of their right to life while the survivors are deprived of their livelihood,' said Isa Sanusi.
Between 9 and 11 May, gunmen sacked four villages of Isa local government area of Sokoto state. The affected communities are: Bafarawa, Gebe, Kamarawa, Garin Fadama and Haruwai. People of these villages are now displaced and struggle to feed daily.
Residents of villages in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states told Amnesty International that gunmen also impose levies on them via phone calls, with the warning that failure to pay by a given deadline will be punished with death.
On the response of the Nigerian authorities, a resident of Maru local government Zamfara state told Amnesty International: 'The only relationship between us and the government is that they issue media statements after we are attacked and killed. That is all they do. When the next attack comes, they will issue another empty statement, while bandits escalate their atrocities. We are helpless.'
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. Again and again, the Nigerian authorities are failing to live up to these obligations.
'Authorities must move swiftly to match their words with serious and concrete action to guarantee the human rights of everyone in Nigeria if they are to be taken seriously on their oft-expressed commitment to stop the killings, violence, abductions and other human rights crimes in several parts of the country.'
'The authorities' failure to hold suspected perpetrators accountable is fueling a cycle of impunity that is making everyone feel unsafe. Time is running out, as gunmen, bandits and insurgents are ramping up attacks daily. The nationwide bloodshed must end now,' said Isa Sanusi.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.