The Nigerian authorities must take urgent steps to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the central state of Benue, where attacks by gunmen have displaced at least 500,000 people, many of whom are languishing in squalid camps without access to sufficient water, poor sanitation, food and healthcare, Amnesty International said today.
In recent years, Nigeria has seen a disturbing rise in mob violence — also known as jungle justice. In many cases, individuals are beaten, burned, or killed by groups of people based on nothing more than suspicion or accusation of wrongdoing.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of at least 54 people between 12:00 am to 1:00 am last night when gunmen invaded Zikke village of Bassa LGA, Plateau State. Along the way, the gunmen also razed villages and looted homes, destroying everything on their path. While those killed are being prepared for mass burial, more dead bodies are being discovered in the bush.”
The National Broadcasting Commission’s blatant ban of broadcasting Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa” is a clear violation of freedom of expression, which includes the right to obtain information. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must immediately direct the NBC to withdraw the bizarre ban which violates a range of human rights.
The Nigerian authorities must address human rights violations by the police to effectively end years of atrocities that emboldened impunity and left many Nigerians vulnerable to the horrifying abuses that triggered the nationwide #EndSARS protests exactly four years ago.
Ahead of planned nationwide protests in response to food shortages and the cost of living crisis, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, said:
Three years after the violent suppression of nationwide #EndSARS protest against police brutality, a total of fifteen protesters arrested in 2020 are still being arbitrarily detained – the majority of them without trial – in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos.
The vision of achieving a human right respecting society greatly lies on the actions of the people. They should be aware of their rights and their roles and responsibilities in upholding and defending them at all times. As part of efforts aimed at achieving this vision, Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN) kicked off its Human Rights Education (HRE) activities for 2023 with training for children and youths on child and human rights. The trainings were designed to suit the needs of each group, answer their questions while also equipping them with appropriate knowledge and skills.
As the world commemorates International Day of Education today, Amnesty International condemns the abduction of 6 primary school pupils in Doma, Nassarawa state. In the early hours of Friday, 20 January 2023, gunmen abducted 6 pupils, 3 girls and 3 boys aged 4-6 years of LGEA Primary School, Alwaza, Doma LGA, Nassarawa State. Four of the abducted pupils remain in captivity. This is the latest in a string of abductions of school children in Northern Nigeria. As of 2022, Amnesty International published that over 1,500 school children have been kidnapped by Boko Haram and bandit armed groups in Nigeria since the abduction of 276 Chibok school girls.
Responding to today’s judgement of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Osai Ojigho said:
2021 saw a worrying rise in executions and death sentences as some of the world’s most prolific executioners returned to business as usual and courts were unshackled from Covid-19 restrictions, Amnesty International said today in its annual review of the death penalty.
Prof. Maurice Fangnon was a brave activist who dedicated his life to defending the poor and oppressed. The 65-year-old human rights defender passed away in Lagos, Nigeria on 5 May 2022.