Amnesty International on Wednesday criticized the Nigerian government’s failure to address the security crisis in the South-East region, which led to the deaths of 1,844 people between January 2021 and June 2023, along with numerous reported human rights violations against citizens.
Isa Sanusi, the director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated:
No one knows exactly how many people have been killed in the Southeast since August 2015. Many individuals have been reported missing or have disappeared forcibly. The high number of killings and the persistent fear of potential attacks occurring at any time illustrate how severely the authorities are failing to protect lives and property and to maintain law and order.
In a report documenting atrocities in Southeast Nigeria, Amnesty International noted that armed clashes between the country’s military forces and various armed groups have led to unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and the displacement of citizens. These abuses were committed by several parties, including violent gunmen, criminal gangs, and state-backed paramilitary groups.
Based on interviews with local citizens, the organization reported that unknown armed men conducted attacks on residents and police stations in Imo state, resulting in the deaths of over 400 people in 2019. Nigerian authorities blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its military group for these attacks, while IPOB denied any involvement. Additionally, alleged human rights violations occurred during the enforcement of stay-at-home orders issued by the IPOB, which included beatings and killings of those who defied the order. This led to the closure of schools and local markets, significantly impacting citizens’ daily lives.
This state of insecurity significantly affected the local traditional customs and fundamental rights of the people, including the rights to life, physical integrity, security, and freedom of movement. Many citizens have been unable to return to their hometowns after being displaced, fearing retaliation or abduction by armed gangs. However, the response from Nigerian authorities did not match the severity of the atrocities committed.
Consequently, Amnesty International urged the authorities to uphold their obligations under international law and put an end to the ongoing violence in the southeastern region. The organization also called on the authorities to investigate the abuses committed in the area.
Nigeria has faced armed conflicts for years, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, violence between herders and farmers, and clashes between state forces and separatist movements in the southeast. These conflicts have led to a humanitarian crisis and concerns of serious human rights violations. A 2015 report by Amnesty International documented the excessive use of force by security forces against members and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The latter is an outlawed separatist movement advocating for the independence of Nigeria’s southeastern region and has regularly imposed stay-at-home orders on citizens. It also employed enforcement tactics such as arson, looting and targeted killings against those who defy the imposed measures.
On the other hand, rights groups criticized the government’s response to these events, deeming it ineffective in reducing the death toll and mitigating the humanitarian crisis.
