Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has left rural communities in the hands of rampaging gunmen to take charge.
According to the organisation, the criminals have killed hundreds of Nigerians and displaced thousands of others.
Amnesty International Nigeria said its findings showed that over 150 villages have been sacked in Zamfara State while over 200,000 have been displaced in Katsina State communities.
The organisation said that communities in Benue, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara states have been left helpless by the government to watch daily as heavily armed gunmen storm villages on dozens of motorcycles to kill residents.
According to the organisation, gunmen storm communities at will, shoot sporadically at people, rape women, set houses on fire, steal cattle, destroy farm produce and abduct villagers for ransom.
It noted that Nigerian government’s failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost.
It said, “The Nigerian authorities have left rural communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen who have killed hundreds of people in the north of the country.
“Amnesty International has documented an alarming escalation in attacks and abductions in several states.
“The President and leadership in the security sector repeatedly claim to have taken steps and tasked security agencies to end the killing so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed. It appears, people live from bloodshed to bloodshed.
“Communities in Benue, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara helplessly watch daily as gunmen storm villages on dozens of motorcycles, heavily armed.
“They shoot sporadically at people, rape women, set houses on fire, steal cattle, destroy farm produce and abduct villagers for ransom.
“The government has an obligation to protect the people nationwide. The rising death toll in the north of Nigeria shows just how badly the authorities are failing in this responsibility.
“The violence has forced many farmers and their families to flee their homes. In Zamfara state over 150 villages have been sacked by gunmen.
“In Katsina state, over 200,000 people are now in displacement, mostly staying with relatives or in uncompleted buildings in urban areas.
“Frequent attacks and abduction for ransom are pushing some northern states to the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.
“The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action many more lives may be lost.”
