Amnesty: 323 killed in Northern attacks in 20 days

Amnesty International says at least 323 people were killed in rural attacks across six northern states in the first 20 days of February, blaming authorities for failing to halt the violence.

Amnesty International has said that at least 323 people were killed in attacks on rural communities across six northern states within the first 20 days of February. In a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, the human rights organisation said the deaths were recorded in Benue State, Katsina State, Kwara State, Kebbi State, Niger State and Zamfara State. The organisation said the rising death toll highlights what it described as the failure of the government of Bola Tinubu to end years of deadly attacks by armed groups and gunmen.

According to Amnesty, the continued violence and the authorities’ inability to stop the attacks or bring perpetrators to justice pose a grave threat to the right to life. “Incessant killings and the shocking failure of the authorities to end them and bring suspected perpetrators to justice have been and continues to be a threat to the right to life in Nigeria,” the statement read. The group noted that it has documented a disturbing pattern of assaults on rural communities since 2020, with gunmen reportedly storming villages on motorcycles, shooting residents, abducting women and girls, burning homes, stealing livestock and farm produce, and kidnapping villagers for ransom.

Amnesty further revealed that some communities received “warning letters” from armed groups before attacks were carried out, with certain assaults lasting several hours. It cited a recent incident in Niger State that reportedly began around 3:00 a.m. and continued until about 10:00 a.m. “Most villagers told Amnesty International that the government left them at the mercy of their attackers,” the statement said, stressing that the government has a constitutional obligation to protect lives and property.

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