Authorities at state and federal levels must act to protect lives and uphold Nigeria’s obligations under international law.

Between 2021 and mid-2023, at least 1,844 people were killed in the South-East. Many were caught between armed groups, state-backed militias, and indiscriminate raids by security forces.

Responding to the letter sent by the Department of State Services (DSS) to X (formerly known as Twitter) demanding immediate deactivation of the handle of human rights defender Omoleye Sowore, Director Amnesty International Nigeria Isa Sanusi said: 

We’re looking for people like you, people who are passionate about human rights and committed to a Nigeria where every person can live in safety and dignity. Whether you want to advocate for the rights of young people, challenge unlawful detentions, defend freedom of expression, or support survivors of gender-based violence, your voice and action are essential.

Rationale 

One year after the police used lethal force and carried out mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful #Endbadgovernance protesters, the Nigerian authorities have failed to ensure justice for victims and survivors, while the police bizarrely continue to deny strong allegations of extrajudicial execution, torture and unlawful arrests of the protesters, Amnesty International said today.

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.

Girls and young women who escaped Boko Haram captivity in north-east Nigeria are still being neglected by the country’s authorities, one year after Amnesty International’s landmark report and launch of the #EmpowerOurGirls campaign.

The Nigerian authorities’ shocking failure to protect lives and property from daily attacks by armed groups and bandits has cost thousands of lives and created a potential humanitarian crisis across many northern states, said Amnesty International.

Responding to the slaughter of the Chief Imam of Maru Alkali Salihu Suleiman, following the abduction of he and his three children, Isa Sanusi Director Amnesty International said:

An kama ƴan jarida da masu sharhi a kan mahukunta da aka caje su kuma aka tsare su ba bisa ƙa’ida ba. Jami’an tsaro sun kama tare da cuzguna wa masu zanga-zanga, kuma sun yi amfani da ƙarfi fiye da kima wajen daƙushe zanga-zangar, wanda ya haifar da mutuwar masu zanga-zangar da dama. An kashe ɗaruruwan mutane a tashin hankali. Ƴan mata da Boko Haram suka sake suna ci gaba da zama cikin rashin tallafi da adalci. Wata kotu a Burtaniya ta ba wa al’ummomi a jihar Rivers damar tuhumar kamfanin Shell da alhakin lalacewar muhalli.