Global Watchdog, Amnesty International, has demanded a probe into the latest killing in Plateau State, which cost over 140 lives, claiming the killer-gunmen operated unhindered for over 48 hours.
In an issued statement on Tuesday, Amnesty said, “The Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that allowed the horrific killing of over 140 people by gunmen across over 20 villages in ?okkos and parts of the Barkin-Ladi local government area of Plateau State”.
Its Director, Isa Sanusi, in the statement, claimed that “our investigation shows that the gunmen were on a rampage of killing and destruction for more than 48 hours, moving from one village to another. Apart from ?okkos local government area, where the attacks started and lasted hours, the gunmen also crossed into Barkin-Ladi LGA and killed dozens of people in Hurum, Daruwat, Maiyanga, and NTV villages”.
He further said the killing was unacceptable, demanding that “President Bola Tinubu set up an impartial, independent, and effective panel to investigate the apparent failure of security agencies to halt the bloodshed hours after villages that were attacked were gathering dead bodies of those killed and conveying those injured to hospitals.
“Patterns of recent deadly attacks on the rural areas of Plateau State clearly show that the Nigerian authorities have left these communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen. Nigerian authorities’ failure to tame the tide of this violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost”, he alleged.
The global body recalled the promise of President Bola Tinubu to reverse the ugly trend under past administrations but doubted if the promise had translated into a substantial result.
Amnesty also reminded the Government of its fundamental responsibility to the people, noting that “the Nigerian authorities are obliged under international human rights law, regional human rights treaties, and Nigeria’s constitution to protect the human rights of all people without discrimination – and that includes the right to life”.
“Amnesty International is calling on Nigerian authorities to independently investigate all the Plateau attacks and ensure accountability by bringing the perpetrators to justice. The spread of these killings is evidence of the failure of authorities to protect the people. The inability of authorities to bring attackers to justice is fuelling impunity”, it charged.
