Amnesty International has raised the alarm over what it described as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect citizens from relentless attacks by armed groups and bandits, revealing that at least 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages sacked in the past two years.
In a new report released on Wednesday, the human rights organisation said Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths with 6,896 people killed, followed by Plateau State with 2,630 deaths.
Other heavily affected states include Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“A new investigation shows that, in the two years since the current government has been in power, at least 10,217 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
“Benue State accounts for the highest death toll of 6,896, followed by Plateau State, where 2,630 people were killed.
“Since 29 May 2023, hundreds of people have been killed in rural areas where, our research
since 2020 shows, a total absence of governance has given gunmen and criminal groups a free hand to commit atrocities.
“Our investigation verified the killing of over 294 people in Katsina State and documented the abduction of 306 people, mostly women and girls, between May 2023 and May 2025.” the report partly read.
In Zamfara, AI said no fewer than 529 villages are under the country of bandits.
“In Zamfara State, attacks have occurred daily, with multiple attacks sometimes taking place in a single day. In the last two years, over 273 people have been killed and 467 people abducted. Since the beginning of the bloody security crisis, bandits have sacked 481 villages across while
529 villages are under the control of bandits, across 13 local governments of Zamfara State,” It stated.
“In Plateau State, armed herders carried out 38 attacks. Bandits have sacked at least 43 villages
in four local government areas. Between 27 March and 2 April 2025,” the report added.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, lamented that insecurity has been on the rise since the president took over.
He said, “Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse.
“The authorities continue to fail to protect the rights to life, physical integrity, liberty and the security of tens of thousands of people across the country.”
The organisation, however, warned of looming humanitarian crises as a result of the rising insecurity.
“The majority, if not all of those affected by these attacks, are farmers, whose displacement means they can no longer cultivate their farms. This is causing a looming humanitarian crisis.
“The majority of those displaced in Plateau and Katsina States told Amnesty International that they had to resort to begging to survive daily life.
At Dangulbi district of Zamfara State, farmers
have to watch their harvest of sweet potatoes rot because bandits have prevented them from transporting them to the nearest market, ” the report added.
Efforts to get the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, were not successful.
He was yet to respond to message sent to him seeking his reactions on the report.