Latest news with #AmnestyInternationalNigeria
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Amnesty says over 10,000 killed in two years in north, central Nigeria
LAGOS: The number of people killed in violence committed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs topped over 10,000 in two years in central and northern Nigeria, Amnesty International said Thursday. In a report, the global rights group blamed the government of President Bola Tinubu for failure to protect people in swaths of the country hit by raids by jihadists, and criminal gangs known as 'bandits' who attack villages, killing and kidnapping residents. Massacres also occur in central Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt where herders and farmers often clash over land access, with the attacks often taking on a religious or ethnic dimension. Amnesty's investigation showed 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'. Benue state, which lies in the central region, suffered the heaviest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed, Amnesty said in a report released to coincide with Tinubu's first two years in office. Of the seven states Amnesty investigated, Borno -- the epicentre of jihadist violence which has raged in northeast Nigeria since 2009 -- was not included. When Tinubu came to power two years ago, he vowed that dealing with insecurity was one of the main challenges for his government. '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 of Amnesty International Nigeria. Northern states that jihadists and other criminal groups have targeted for several years have seen an upsurge in attacks in recent months. Sanusi said 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'. Amnesty estimates that the attacks in Benue and Plateau states have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Tinubu two weeks ago said his 'administration is committed to addressing insecurity'. 'The security forces have fresh marching orders to deal decisively with all criminal activities,' he was quoted as saying in a statement from his office during talks with Christian clergy.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Amnesty says over 10,000 killed in two years in Nigeria
LAGOS: The number of people killed in violence committed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs topped over 10,000 in two years in central and northern Nigeria, Amnesty International said Thursday. In a report, the global rights group blamed the government of President Bola Tinubu for failure to protect people in swaths of the country hit by raids by jihadists, and criminal gangs known as 'bandits' who attack villages, killing and kidnapping residents. Massacres also occur in central Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt where herders and farmers often clash over land access, with the attacks often taking on a religious or ethnic dimension. Amnesty's investigation showed 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'. Benue state, which lies in the central region, suffered the heaviest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed, Amnesty said in a report released to coincide with Tinubu's first two years in office. Of the seven states Amnesty investigated, Borno -- the epicentre of jihadist violence which has raged in northeast Nigeria since 2009 -- was not included. When Tinubu came to power two years ago, he vowed that dealing with insecurity was one of the main challenges for his government. '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 of Amnesty International Nigeria. Northern states that jihadists and other criminal groups have targeted for several years have seen an upsurge in attacks in recent months. Sanusi said 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'. Amnesty estimates that the attacks in Benue and Plateau states have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Tinubu two weeks ago said his 'administration is committed to addressing insecurity'. 'The security forces have fresh marching orders to deal decisively with all criminal activities,' he was quoted as saying in a statement from his office during talks with Christian clergy.
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Over 10,000 killed in two years in north, central Nigeria: Amnesty - Africa
The number of people killed in violence committed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs topped over 10,000 in two years in central and northern Nigeria, Amnesty International said Thursday. In a report, the global rights group blamed the government of President Bola Tinubu for failure to protect people in swaths of the country hit by raids by jihadists, and criminal gangs known as "bandits" who attack villages, killing and kidnapping residents. Massacres also occur in central Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt where herders and farmers often clash over land access, with the attacks often taking on a religious or ethnic dimension. Amnesty's investigation showed 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". Benue state, which lies in the central region, suffered the heaviest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed, Amnesty said in a report released to coincide with Tinubu's first two years in office. Of the seven states Amnesty investigated, Borno -- the epicentre of jihadist violence which has raged in northeast Nigeria since 2009 -- was not included. When Tinubu came to power two years ago, he vowed that dealing with insecurity was one of the main challenges for his government. "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 of Amnesty International Nigeria. Northern states that jihadists and other criminal groups have targeted for several years have seen an upsurge in attacks in recent months. Sanusi said 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". Amnesty estimates that the attacks in Benue and Plateau states have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Tinubu two weeks ago said his "administration is committed to addressing insecurity". "The security forces have fresh marching orders to deal decisively with all criminal activities," he was quoted as saying in a statement from his office during talks with Christian clergy. His government is also facing simmering separatist tensions in the southeast. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
France 24
3 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Amnesty: over 10,000 killed in two years of violence in north and central Nigeria
The number of people killed in violence committed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs topped over 10,000 in two years in central and northern Nigeria, Amnesty International said Thursday. In a report, the global rights group blamed the government of President Bola Tinubu for failure to protect people in swaths of the country hit by raids by jihadists, and criminal gangs known as "bandits" who attack villages, killing and kidnapping residents. Massacres also occur in central Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt where herders and farmers often clash over land access, with the attacks often taking on a religious or ethnic dimension. Amnesty's investigation showed 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". Benue state, which lies in the central region, suffered the heaviest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau state, where 2,630 people were killed, Amnesty said in a report released to coincide with Tinubu's first two years in office. Of the seven states Amnesty investigated, Borno -- the epicentre of jihadist violence which has raged in northeast Nigeria since 2009 -- was not included. When Tinubu came to power two years ago, he vowed that dealing with insecurity was one of the main challenges for his government. "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 of Amnesty International Nigeria. Northern states that jihadists and other criminal groups have targeted for several years have seen an upsurge in attacks in recent months. Sanusi said 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". Amnesty estimates that the attacks in Benue and Plateau states have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Tinubu two weeks ago said his "administration is committed to addressing insecurity". "The security forces have fresh marching orders to deal decisively with all criminal activities," he was quoted as saying in a statement from his office during talks with Christian clergy. His government is also facing simmering separatist tensions in the southeast.
Arab News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Shiite protesters clash with Nigerian military, police in Abuja
ABUJA: Nigerian police said on Saturday they had come under intense gunfire a day earlier in a neighborhood of the capital, Abuja, during clashes between security forces and Shiite Muslim protesters that led to several reported deaths. Nigeria has a history of deadly clashes between security forces and members of the banned Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), which advocates for the peaceful establishment of an Islamic state in Africa's most populous nation. On Friday, dozens of the group's members marched in solidarity with Palestine, but violence broke out when they clashed with soldiers and police. Critics say Nigerian security forces have increasingly resorted to using force, including live ammunition, to quell protests, and that this could radicalize groups like IMN. Police in a statement on Saturday accused the protesters of 'a violent assault' on security personnel armed with firearms and other lethal weapons in Abuja's Wuse 2 neighborhood. 'Police and security personnel encountered intense gunfire from the attackers, resulting in the serious injury of three security operatives,' said Josephine Adeh, police spokesperson for Abuja. One member of the security forces had died and 19 suspects had been arrested, he said. Videos circulating on social media platform X showed protesters waving a Palestinian flag and throwing stones at an army vehicle, followed by the sound of gunfire. Sidi Munir Sokoto, a senior IMN member blamed the military for the violence, saying the protest was peaceful. He put the death toll at five. 'This was the military. The (military) leadership must explain why this happened,' Sokoto said. An army spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Isa Sanusi, head of Amnesty International Nigeria, called for an impartial investigation. 'The army used live ammunition on the protesters. It appears they approach IMN protesters always with the intent to kill,' Sanusi told Reuters, also putting the death toll at five.
