Rights group, Amnesty International, says the failure of Nigerian
government to hold murderers to account is encouraging them and fueling
rising insecurity across the country.
The group made the observation on Thursday through a statement signed by
its media officer, Isa Sanusi.
It said independently verified estimated figures showed at least 1813
people have been murdered in 17 states in the country this year, double
the 894 people killed in 2017.
According to the group, the death tolls reflect killings as a result of
farmers-herders conflict, communal clashes, Boko Haram attacks and
banditry.
“We are gravely concerned about the rising spate of killings across the
country, especially the communal clashes between farmers and herders and
attacks by bandits across at least 17 states,” the statement quoted Osai
Ojigho, Director Amnesty International Nigeria
“The authorities have a responsibility to protect lives and properties,
but they are clearly not doing enough going by what is happening,” Mr
Ojigho said.
“The latest incidence in Plateau State, where armed gunmen attacked 11
villages on 23 June for at least seven hours and killed at least 200
villagers without intervention from security forces should be
investigated.”
It said it shows unacceptable security lapses that the violence in Plateau
started after an attack, which was followed by reprisal attacks from
Thursday to Saturday last week.
“Despite the deployment of security forces, including the military in over
30 states, the escalation of these attacks shows that whatever is being
done by authorities is not working.
“There is urgent need for people who are suspected of committing crimes to
be held accountable.
“We hope that President (Muhammadu) Buhari’s commitment to bring those
suspected to be criminally responsible for the killings in Plateau State
to justice will break the impunity that has spread through the country.
“In addition, government must answer these questions: who are these
attackers, where do they come from, where do they go after attacks, who
arms them, why is security forces’ response time very slow?”
Amnesty International said it is currently investigating the rising
insecurity that has resulted in the increase in killings across Nigeria.
It said its investigations showed “worrying details of how frequently the
security forces failed to protect villagers. In all cases Amnesty
International investigated, the attackers, usually arriving in their
hundreds spend hours killing people and setting houses on fire and then
disappeared without a trace.
Impact on food security:
The group also expressed concern about the impact of the killings on
farming, “especially with the affected villages and farmlands deserted
because people fear going back to their homes.
“We are at the peak of farming season, and communities affected by this
wave of violence are largely agrarian. But because of fear of attacks they
have either been displaced or unable to cultivate their farms, therefore
their major source of food and income threatened by the attacks,” Mr
Ojigho said.
The organisation called on government to address “security lapses that
make it easier for the killers to carry out attacks and disappear.
“Making arrests and bringing to justice those suspected to be responsible
for these attacks is crucial in ending the killings that are gradually
turning into almost a daily occurrence. In many instances these killings
happen and no arrests take place,” Mr Ojigho said.