Latest news with #Zamfara
Zawya
4 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Nigeria: Mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups
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.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Villagers tori how thousands turn refugees, communities become ghost town as notorious bandit Bello Turji give dem eviction notice for Sokoto
Pipo from several villages for Isa Local Government area for Sokoto State, northern Nigeria, don leave dia homes after dem say notorious bandit leader tell dem to comot witin few days or im go attack. Di bandits tell dem to comot afta dem attack some villages for di local government on Saturday. Di villages wey di bandits attack and sack for dia communities na Sududdubu, Galadima, Tsulawa, and Bafarawa, wey be village of former oGvnor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa. Reports say fear make some pipo for di communities comot go inside main town for Isa local goment for Sokoto, while odas run go Shinkafi local goment for Zamfara state as refugees. According to one Bashir Altine, wey dey live around Isa local goment area, e tok say di bandits attack na revenge for recent army attacks on bandits for di area. "Bello Turji and im boys dey in control of Sabon Birni and Isa local goments, and dem don dey terrorise dat area for years." "I fit tell you say more dan 30 villages don become ghost communities sake of di fear for dia lives," Altine tok. E add say, "na di bandits demself come direct to those villages come tell dem say make dem comot." Anoda resident for one of di villages tell BBC Pidgin say na Bello Turji pipo come dia village dey collect anytin wey get value and tell dem say make dem comot before dem come back. 'Afta soldiers comot, Bello Turji pipo come our village dey collect anytin wey get value from our hand. And dem tell us say make we comot if we wan live.' E add say, 'Di bandits kill seven to eight pipo during dia attack, while 20 odas bin injure.' "We don already tell di authority our situation sake of say we no get any security personnel for our village." According to di pipo wey comot from dia villages, dem tok say dem don dey live in fear for di past years becos of plenty attacks from bandits for dia region for Sokoto State, northern Nigeria. Police tok-tok persin for Sokoto, Rufa'i Ahmad, tell BBC Pidgin say di police no receive any official complaints from dat area, but e tok say deployment dey for di area. "Regarding dia mata, we never receive any official complaints from di pipo for dat area," Ahmad tok. But e add say since last week, Thursday and Friday, deployment don dey for dat area. Ahmad add say, "Since before dis incident wey pipo dey tok, deployment don already dey dat area. Sometin new fit happun wey we no know, dat na why e dey very important for residents to update us on wetin dey happun for dia areas." "As I dey now, we dey work and collaborate wit oda security personal to tackle insecurity kasala for dat region" E urge pipo for areas wey dey experience insecurity to dey update security pipo with informant so dem fit help dem well.
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Driving digital empowerment, Zamfara govt partners with Oracle
The Zamfara State government has signed an agreement with Oracle to invest in youth development, workforce capacity building and the digital economy under Oracle University's Skills Development Initiative (SDI). The Agreement was signed at Oracle's Offices in London, United Kingdom, with Governor Dauda Lawal representing the Zamfara State government. A statement on Wednesday by the Governor's spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained that the development will foster collaboration between the Zamfara Information and Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) and Oracle. Secretary to the State Government, two Special Advisers and the Executive Secretary of ZITDA were also present at the event, along with Siobhan Wilson, Oracle UK Country Leader and Senior Vice President, EMEA. The statement said, 'Zamfara State government has signed a strategic agreement with Oracle to drive digital skills development across the state. 'Facilitated through the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, the collaboration will use the expertise and learning services of both Oracle Academy and Oracle University in their digital transformation efforts. 'The collaboration signifies a commitment to education and a strategic investment in the future of Zamfara's youth, workforce and digital economy. 'Oracle Academy, Oracle's global philanthropic educational programme offers a robust portfolio of technology education teaching and learning resources, including curriculum and software access, to educators and students worldwide. 'With the support of the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, these resources will be made available to validate higher education institutions across Zamfara. 'ZITDA will help lead efforts to integrate Oracle Academy offerings into Zamfara's higher education curriculum, equipping educators with the tools and resources they need to guide students in learning hands-on tech skills and toward Oracle's professional certifications and foster a new generation of tech-savvy leaders. 'In addition, Oracle University's Skills Development Initiative, a global programme that provides access to world-class learning and certification programmes at no cost to eligible learners, will further expand opportunities for learners in Zamfara. 'Through a co-branded Learning Portal in collaboration with ZITDA, Oracle University plans to provide free access to digital learning paths and foundational certifications for eligible participants across Zamfara. This includes curated learning journeys offering over 200 hours of professional-level training in high-demand areas such as Cloud, AI, Data Science and APEX development.' In his remarks at the ceremony, Governor Dauda Lawal restated that the collaboration with Oracle is part of his administration's commitment to transforming Zamfara into a hub of innovation, education, and digital excellence. He said, 'on behalf of the government and the good people of Zamfara State, I extend my deepest appreciation to Oracle for believing in our vision and for partnering with us on this transformative journey. 'What we are doing today goes beyond technology, it is about giving hope, creating opportunities and unlocking the future. 'By investing in digital education and innovation, we are offering real alternatives to poverty, to joblessness and to despair.' 'I sincerely thank Oracle for standing with us, believing in the power of partnership, purpose, and shared dreams. 'Today, we are not just signing a document, we are making a promise, promise that every child in Zamfara will have a fair chance to dream, to learn, and to succeed. A promise that technology will be our bridge to a stronger, more inclusive economy. And, a promise that Zamfara will not merely participate in the digital revolution, we will lead it.'
