Tinubu Failing to Protect Nigerians Amid Rising Insecurity – Amnesty International

By Zainab Rauf  Amnesty International has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to prioritise th...

By Zainab Rauf 

Amnesty International has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to prioritise the protection of lives amid escalating insecurity across the country.

In a statement released this week, the global human rights organisation lamented the deteriorating security situation, pointing to a series of deadly attacks that claimed at least 54 lives in Benue, Borno, Kwara, and Zamfara states. The group warned that abductions and displacements are also on the rise, with armed groups operating with "impunity."

“Nigerian government is increasingly failing to protect lives, as gunmen escalate attacks with impunity,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation described how farming communities in Benue and Plateau states have been "slaughtered, sacked, and razed" by gunmen. It also highlighted that in parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina, bandits are reportedly imposing brutal rules and extorting levies from residents at gunpoint.

“The latest attacks on rural communities show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups, while gunmen are wantonly having a free reign of bloodshed across many parts of Nigeria,” Amnesty International stated.

According to the release, current security measures are inadequate, and the persistence of violence demonstrates that “whatever security measure being implemented by the government are not working.”

Amnesty International further criticised the administration’s apparent lack of urgency, noting that “protecting lives and property is low on the list of government priorities.” The organiz'sation warned that Nigerians have been "left at the mercy of gunmen," forced to live in constant fear of the next attack or abduction.

“The Nigerian authorities’ consistent failure to protect people is completely unacceptable and must end,” the statement concluded.

The mounting criticism adds to growing public concern over the Tinubu administration’s handling of security challenges, which continue to destabilise communities across the country.