Amnesty International raised the alarm, on Wednesday, over what it describes as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits, saying at least 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages sacked in the past two years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
But in a swift reaction, the Federal Government, in a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, disputed Amnesty’s report, saying, “The so-called report should be wholly discarded for being an empty attempt at sensationalism and scare-mongering.”
According to the minister, it is unfortunate that a respected platform like Amnesty International would resort to “careless dishing out of figures without verifiable source and credible methodology.”
Idris said, “While they bandy around figures, lived experience of people affected by these crises point to a different reality. While we do not claim to completely overcome the challenges, it’s evident that so many communities had been resettled in the past two years. Swathes of farmlands not cultivated for years were farmed in the last season. Independent media reporting had showcased how places were markets had been closed for many years are now reopened and bein patronised. These changes have helped in bumping up the rural economy even at a time of economic slowdown.”
In a new report on Wednesday, Amnesty International said Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths with 6,896 people killed, followed by Plateau State with 2,630 deaths.
Other heavily affected states include Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, among others.
“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.
“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.” the report partly read.
In Zamfara, AI said no fewer than 529 villages are under the control of bandits.
“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 bloody security crisis, bandits have sacked 481 villages across while 529 villages are under the control of bandits, across 13 local governments of Zamfara state,” It stated.
“In Plateau state, armed herders carried out 38 attacks. Bandits have sacked at least 43 villages in four local government areas. Between 27 March and 2 April 2025,” the report added.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, lamented that insecurity had been on the rise since President Tinubu took over.
He said, “Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse.
“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.”
The organisation, however, warned of looming humanitarian crises as a result of the rising insecurity.
“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, “ the report added.
