The Next Edition
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate
No Result
View All Result
The Next Edition
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate
Home Top News

2020: 1,500 Nigerians Killed, Kidnapped In 8 Northern States – Amnesty International

Next Edition by Next Edition
August 24, 2020
in Top News
2020: 1,500 Nigerians Killed, Kidnapped In 8 Northern States – Amnesty International
0
SHARES
3
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

Over 1,000 Nigerians have been killed so far this year, while close to 400 have been kidnapped across eight northern states in Nigeria, Amnesty International said on Sunday.

The body, which accused the Nigerian authorities of leaving rural communities at the mercy of rampaging bandits, said specifically, gunmen killed at least 1,126 people, and kidnapped at least 380 in the northern part of the country between January and July.

You might also like

DSS, Police Arrest 20 For Allegedly Hacking UTME Results

Aircraft Crash-Lands In Ilorin, Two Hospitalised

Lagos Seals Three-Storey Building For Illegal Wastewater Discharge

It listed the states as Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara States.

“Many of those interviewed described how security forces often arrive hours after attacks have ended, even when officers have been given information about impending attacks.

During one attack in Unguwan Magaji in Kaduna state, security forces arrived at the scene but left when they saw the sophisticated ammunition the attackers were using. By the time they returned, at least 17 people had been killed,” AI said.

It said worst affected are villages in the south of Kaduna State, where armed men killed at least 366 people in multiple attacks between January and July 2020.

In a statement signed by the Director of AI Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, the body observed that “terrifying attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years.”

Osai Ojigho

She deacribed the failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers as “utterly shameful”.

She noted further: “In addition to the security forces’ failure to heed warnings or respond in time to save lives, the fact that no perpetrators have been brought to justice leaves rural communities feeling completely exposed. The President claims he has repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killing so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed.”

The statement noted further that no fewer than 77 people have been killed since January 2020 in the ongoing communal clashes between the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups in Taraba state.

It recalled that on May 28, at least 74 people were reportedly killed in Sokoto state, when gunmen attacked four villages in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

AI said the attacks in Kaduna, Plateau and Katsina states were discovered to have been coordinated.

“Attackers stormed villages on motorcycles and were heavily armed. They shoot sporadically at people, set houses on fire, steal cattle, destroy farm produce and abduct villagers for ransom.”

READ ALSO: SARS Illegally Executed 82 Persons In Three Years – Amnesty International

The body said scores of people were killed by suspected herders in four communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna.

“More than 100 people were killed in July during 11 suspected coordinated attacks in Chikun, Kaura and Zangon-Kataf Local Government Areas of the state. At least 16 people were killed in Kukum-Daji on 19 July 2020, in an attack that lasted for five minutes, when attackers shot sporadically at villagers.”

Amnesty revealed that at least 380 people – mostly women and children – have been abducted for ransom during attacks in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Nasarawa and Zamfara states in 2020.

It pointed out that relatives of those abducted sell all their belongings to pay ransom to the gunmen while those unable to pay are mostly killed.

Al quoting an eye witness, said at least 17 women were abducted on 20 July in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, in an attack that lasted for almost three hours.

The body, however, condemned the arrest of Nigerians for protesting killings and abductions.

“On 8 August, at least 3 people were arrested during a peaceful protest at Refinery Junction, Kaduna South, and on 18 June, at least 20 protesters were arrested and detained for days by police in Katsina State. On 17 June, Nastura Ashir Sharif, an activist, was arrested for speaking out against the killings and leading protests calling for an end to the rising insecurity in the country. On 10 April, a youth from the Oureedam community in the Bassa area of Plateau State was arrested after complaining that security forces had arrived late to an attack.”

Osai Ojigho declared that the Nigerian authorities have displayed gross incompetence and a total disregard for people’s lives.

“Arresting people who dare to ask for help is a further blow. Instead of arresting critics, the authorities should be seeking urgent solutions to this crisis and doing all they can to prevent further attacks. The government has an obligation to protect its population. The rising death toll in the north of Nigeria shows just how badly the authorities are failing in this responsibility,” she said

Meanwhile, the body has also warned that a humanitarian crisis was looming in Katsina as violence has forced many farmers and their families to flee their homes.

“At least 33,130 people are now in displacement camps, and others have gone to stay with relatives in urban areas. Thousands of farmers could not cultivate their farms during the 2020 rain season because of fear of attacks or abduction.”

Tags: 2020Amnesty Internationalfeatured
Next Edition

Next Edition

Recommended For You

New Police

DSS, Police Arrest 20 For Allegedly Hacking UTME Results

Twenty suspects have been arrested for hacking the 2025 Computer-based test examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The suspects were nabbed by operatives of...

Aircraft Crash-Lands In Ilorin, Two Hospitalised

Aircraft Crash-Lands In Ilorin, Two Hospitalised

Two individuals sustained serious injuries when a training aircraft crash-landed at Ilorin International Airport on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday, the Director of Public Affairs and...

Lagos Seals Three-Storey Building For Illegal Wastewater Discharge

Lagos Seals Three-Storey Building For Illegal Wastewater Discharge

Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, LSWMO, has sealed a three-storey residential building in Ilasan, Lekki Peninsula II, under Eti-Osa Local Government Area, for unlawfully discharging untreated wastewater and...

UNILAG Denies Claims Of Additional Fees

UNILAG Dismisses Claims of Delay in NELFund Loan Refunds to Students

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has refuted reports circulating online that claim there are delays in reimbursing students who paid fees prior to receiving their National Education Loan...

Next Post
13 Die In Stampede, As Police Raid Nightclub Breaking Coronavirus Restrictions

13 Die In Stampede, As Police Raid Nightclub Breaking Coronavirus Restrictions




Related News

Crashed Russian plane data recorders found

Crashed Russian plane data recorders found

APC speaks on Yakubu Dogara ’s defection

APC speaks on Yakubu Dogara’s defection

Niger Delta Rights Group Tackles Military Over Invasion of Bayelsa Community

Over 210 Confessed Bandits In Sokoto Quit Criminal Activities




The Next Edition

Office Address

3B, Agboola Aina street, Off Toyin Street,
Ikeja, Lagos.

Quick Contact Details

Phone:
08033018430
Whatsapp:
08051679910

Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Categories

  • Aviation
  • Beauty
  • Breaking News
  • Business
  • Columnists
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Headline News
  • Home & Garden
  • Interviews
  • Investigations
  • North Central
  • North East
  • North West
  • Opinion
  • Parenting
  • Politics
  • Relationships
  • South East
  • South West
  • South-South
  • Special Reports
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Vox Pops

© Next Edition Business Development Limited

  • About Us
  • Advert Rate
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate

© Next Edition Business Development Limited