Amnesty International (AI) has said at least 112 people were killed, 160 abducted and thousands displaced in communities in Plateau and Kaduna States from July to August 5, 2021.
Osai Ojigho, Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, blamed the development on the failure of Nigerian authorities to live up to their obligation to protect right to life.
“Our findings show that despite clear signs that there will be retaliatory attacks, enough is not being done to prevent the bloodshed, thereby fueling the ongoing circle of violence.”
“Beyond issuing statements and condemning attacks after they happen; government needs to rein in on attackers and bring suspects to justice”, Ojigho said.
She said investigation by the rights group showed that at least 78 people were killed and 160 abducted by bandits between July 3 and August 5, 2021, in Kaduna, including 121 schoolchildren of Bethel Baptist Church High School.
“At least 34 people have been killed in Plateau State, including 7 herders who were attacked on July 1 at Dogon Gaba, 2 others were lynched at Fusa Village while trying to locate their missing cow,” she further said.
“Villagers from farming communities, informed Amnesty International that, innocent people and communities that know nothing about the attacks are sometimes targeted for reprisal.
“A retaliatory attack on July 31 and August 1, 2021, led to the killing of at least 17 people, and the displacement of hundreds in farming communities in Bassa and Riyom LGAs, Plateau state”.
“A 39-year-old farmer informed Amnesty international that: ‘We have been hearing gunshots in our village since Monday after the attack. We don’t know why we were attacked, I had to relocate to the IDP camp with my family’.
“The slow and ineffective response by security officials is contributing to the attacks and reprisal in the state, people are getting away with crimes.
“The Nigerian authorities must act swiftly to prevent such attacks from happening. The slow response from security forces is clearly causing increased in casualties, how much longer must people be forced to live in fear as such brutal attacks continue?”
