Amnesty International has accused President Bola Tinubu and the security chiefs of leaving rural communities at the mercy of rampaging terrorists.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the international human rights body said criminals have killed hundreds of Nigerians and displaced thousands.
The organisation said its findings revealed that over 150 villages have been sacked in Zamfara State, while over 200,000 have been displaced in Katsina State communities.
The statement added that communities in Benue, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, and Zamfara states have been left helpless by the government as heavily armed gunmen stormed villages on dozens of motorcycles to kill residents.
The statement noted that gunmen storm communities at will, shoot sporadically at people, rape women, set houses on fire, rustle cattle, destroy farm produce, and abduct villagers for ransom.
“The Nigerian authorities have left rural communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen who have killed hundreds of people in the north of the country.
“Amnesty International has documented an alarming escalation in attacks and abductions in several states.
“The President and leadership in the security sector repeatedly claim to have taken steps and tasked security agencies to end the killing so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed. It appears, people live from bloodshed to bloodshed.
“Communities in Benue, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, and Zamfara helplessly watch daily as gunmen storm villages on dozens of motorcycles, heavily armed.
“They shoot sporadically at people, rape women, set houses on fire, steal cattle, destroy farm produce, and abduct villagers for ransom.
“The government has an obligation to protect the people nationwide. The rising death toll in the north of Nigeria shows just how badly the authorities are failing in this responsibility.
“The violence has forced many farmers and their families to flee their homes. In Zamfara State, over 150 villages have been sacked by gunmen.
“In Katsina State, over 200,000 people are now in displacement, mostly staying with relatives or in uncompleted buildings in urban areas.
“Frequent attacks and abduction for ransom are pushing some northern states to the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.
“The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost.”
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