Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of grossly failing in its responsibility to protect citizens from relentless violence, disclosing that no fewer than 10,217 people have been killed and 672 villages destroyed across several states in the past two years.
In a report released Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the international human rights organization painted a grim picture of deteriorating security, particularly in rural communities across Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Edo States.
“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,” the report stated.
Benue State recorded the highest number of fatalities with 6,896 deaths, followed by Plateau State, which witnessed 2,630 deaths.
Amnesty also confirmed 294 killings and 306 abductions in Katsina State between May 2023 and May 2025—many of the abductees being women and girls.
In Zamfara State, the report highlighted a deepening crisis, revealing that 529 villages are now under the control of bandits, while 481 others have been sacked. In the past two years alone, 273 people have been killed and 467 kidnapped in the state, with daily attacks becoming a grim norm.
The organisation also reported that Plateau State suffered 38 separate attacks by armed herders, resulting in the destruction of at least 43 villages across four local government areas, with one particularly deadly stretch of violence occurring between March 27 and April 2, 2025.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed deep concern over the government’s failure to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect life and property.
“Today marks exactly two years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise to enhance security. Instead, things have only gotten worse,” Sanusi said.
“The authorities continue to fail to protect the rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, and security of tens of thousands of people across the country.”
Sanusi emphasized that many of the victims are rural farmers, whose forced displacement now threatens food security.
“The majority of those affected by these attacks are farmers who can no longer cultivate their land. This has sparked a looming humanitarian crisis,” the report added.
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently restore security in affected regions and take credible steps to hold perpetrators accountable.
The report also urged the international community to closely monitor the situation and provide humanitarian support to displaced populations.
Despite repeated government assurances, the data presented by Amnesty suggests a growing climate of impunity, where criminal groups operate freely in vast swathes of territory without meaningful resistance.
