10th August, 2021
Amnesty International has lamented massive killings in Kaduna and Plateau States, saying 122 people have been killed in the states by bandits in the last one month.
It also said at least 160 people have been abducted by bandits within the same period.
Director Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho said the organisation’s findings show that despite clear signs that there would be retaliatory attacks, enough was not being done by government to prevent the bloodshed, thereby fueling the ongoing circle of violence.
She added that beyond issuing statements and condemning attacks after they happened, the government needed to rein in on attackers and bring suspects to justice.
According to her, of the 112 people killed, 78 of them were killed in Kaduna with 160 others abducted between July and August 5.
She disclosed that at least 34 people had been killed in Plateau State, including 7 herders who were attacked on July 1 at Dogon Gaba, with others lynched at Fusa Village while trying to locate their missing cow.
Ojigho stated that villagers from farming communities, informed Amnesty International that innocent people and communities that knew nothing about the attacks were sometimes targeted for reprisal.
She said a retaliatory attack on July 31 and August 1, 2021, led to the killing of at least 17 people, and the displacement of hundreds in farming communities in Bassa and Riyom LGAs, Plateau State.
According to her, a 39-year-old farmer informed Amnesty international that they had been hearing gunshots in their village since Monday after the attack.