Daniel Adaji
Amnesty International Nigeria, a social accountability body, has called on the federal government to urgently tackle the country’s deepening security crisis and worsening hunger.
Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, made the call in an exclusive interview with Pointblank News on Wednesday.
“The insecurity in Nigeria is getting out of hand, and people are being killed almost every day. It is escalating and expanding, and the government is appearing to be helpless. That is the problem,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi warned that the twin crises of insecurity and economic hardship are creating a humanitarian emergency.
“We are witnessing a terrible problem that we have never seen anything like in a generation—where a bad economic situation comes at the same time with heightened insecurity,” he said.
“It’s rare and unfortunate, and I hope that the government will fix this immediately.”
Amnesty’s alarm comes amid a spike in violent attacks, food shortages, and mass displacements in Nigeria’s central and north-central regions, widely known as the country’s food basket.
Armed groups have carried out deadly raids in Benue, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara states, among others, forcing thousands to flee their homes and abandon their farms. This has disrupted food production, triggering severe shortages and surging prices.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s inflation rate hit 34.8 per cent in December 2024, with food inflation peaking at 39.84 per cent. Though food inflation reportedly declined to 23.51 per cent in February 2025, experts attribute this to a change in measurement methodology, not a real drop in food prices.
The crisis has led to tragic consequences. In recent months, stampedes at charity food events have resulted in multiple deaths, a stark sign of rising desperation.
Meanwhile, insecurity continues to spiral. At least 872 people were killed and over 350 abducted across multiple states in just 48 days, according to data from HumAngle, Zagazola, and other security tracking platforms. Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram insurgents, and criminal gangs are blamed for the widespread carnage.
Benue State has been hit especially hard, recording 222 deaths and massive destruction of property.
Governor Hyacinth Alia described the violence as “serious carnage” and a “targeted assault,” urging the federal government to intervene immediately. “I’m calling on the federal government to come to our aid urgently,” he said.
In the North-West, banditry and kidnapping are on the rise. States like Kaduna, Zamfara, and Katsina have witnessed mass abductions and killings. More than 342 people were kidnapped, with hundreds injured.
The latest National Crime and Security Perception Survey by the NBS paints a bleak picture. Between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid N2.23tn in ransoms.
The survey recorded 51.89m crime incidents, with rural areas experiencing more attacks than urban centres. Kidnapping was rampant, with 65 per cent of victims paying ransoms averaging N2.67m.
Trust in the police remains low. Only 36.3 per cent of robbery victims reported incidents, and just 33.1 per cent said security agencies responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes. Many communities now rely more on local vigilante groups for protection.
Amnesty International is demanding immediate and coordinated government action.
“The government must take steps to restore security and ease economic hardship. People deserve to live in safety and dignity,” Sanusi said.