AI Accuses Nigerian Government of 'Flagrant Incompetence' After Killing of 17 Farmers

Amnesty International has sharply criticized the Nigerian government, labeling its response to escalating violence as "flagrant incompetence" and "lethargy." The human rights organization stated that the government has failed in its duty to protect citizens and curb the increasing frequency of attacks and kidnappings across the country. This condemnation comes in the wake of a brutal attack on farmers in Zamfara state, where at least 17 people were killed and 13 injured.

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The Nigerian government has shown what can only be described as flagrant incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population and end the increasingly intense attacks and kidnappings.

The attack in Goron Namaye village, Maradun area, saw dozens of bandits posing as visitors before revealing their weapons. Local civil society officials suggested the motive could be retaliation for the deaths of bandits or the imposition of "harvest taxes" on farmers. These bandits reportedly force farmers to pay a levy before accessing their land, attacking those who refuse.

This incident occurred on the same day Nigerian President Bola Tinubu issued a stern ultimatum to criminals, warning them to surrender or face the full force of the state. Zamfara and other states in Nigeria's center and northwest regions are frequently targeted by criminal gangs, often referred to as "bandits," who engage in mass assaults and kidnappings for ransom. Authorities sometimes label these groups as "terrorists."

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Farming in Zamfara state has become a matter of life and death.

Amnesty International warned that farming in Zamfara has become a "matter of life and death" and urged Nigerian authorities to take decisive action against the "incessant atrocities." The organization highlighted that the authorities' inaction has fostered impunity, allowing killings to spread and inflicting further suffering on communities living in constant fear.

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The lethargy of the authorities has allowed impunity to flourish and the killings to spread to many parts of the country, inflicting further suffering on communities that already live in constant fear of the next attack.