Amnesty slams Tinubu: Zamfara bloodbath continues unchecked

DDM News

(DDM) – Amnesty International has issued a scathing indictment of the Nigerian government over its handling of the worsening security crisis in Zamfara State.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the global human rights watchdog, in a statement on Monday titled “President Tinubu Must End the Bloodshed in Zamfara,” condemned the administration’s inability to protect citizens from relentless bandit attacks.

The group described the recent killing of 38 abducted villagers by armed bandits as a stark reminder of the government’s systemic failure.

According to Amnesty International, the victims were kidnapped from Banga village in Kauran Namoda Local Government Area and held in captivity for five months before being executed.

During that time, the hostages were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment while their families desperately sold personal belongings to raise ransom payments.

The massacre, Amnesty said, is just the latest in a long history of state negligence and abandonment of rural populations.

Zamfara State, once known for its agricultural prosperity, has descended into near-anarchy, plagued by mass abductions, killings, and displacement since 2018.

“No part of Zamfara is safe,” the organization warned.

Daily attacks, Amnesty said, have become the norm in the state, with multiple assaults often occurring on the same day.

Major highways across Zamfara, especially those connecting towns to rural settlements, are now controlled by heavily armed bandit groups.

Amnesty’s internal data shows that, over the past two years alone, more than 273 people have been killed and 467 others abducted in the state.

At least 481 villages have been completely overrun by armed men, while 529 communities are believed to be under full bandit control across 13 local government areas.

“These figures are not just statistics,” Amnesty warned, “they are the faces of families wiped out and futures shattered.”

The human rights organization strongly criticized the federal government’s continued silence and lack of effective response to the ongoing bloodshed.

Amnesty described the deteriorating situation in Zamfara not just as a regional emergency but as a national tragedy.

“The people of Zamfara State continue to pay the price of the Nigerian government’s utter failure and disregard with their lives,” the statement read.

The group emphasized that the security situation has degenerated into a humanitarian catastrophe, with villagers living in daily fear of raids, kidnappings, or killings.

In some regions, armed groups have established parallel authorities, collecting taxes and enforcing their own laws.

Despite numerous military operations and political promises to restore normalcy, little has changed on the ground, and citizens remain largely unprotected.

Amnesty reminded the Tinubu administration of its binding obligation under both Nigerian law and international treaties to ensure the right to life and safety of all citizens.

“The Nigerian authorities have an obligation under national and international laws to protect all lives — without discrimination,” the group declared.

They urged the federal government to immediately overhaul its security strategy and bring the cycle of violence to an end.

The massacre of the 38 villagers, Amnesty insisted, is not an isolated case but part of a pattern of failure to act decisively in the face of mounting atrocities.

The group further accused the government of lacking the political will to confront the root causes of the crisis, which include poverty, lack of governance, and the proliferation of small arms.

Amnesty warned that unless bold steps are taken now, the region risks falling completely into lawlessness and further destabilizing the wider northern region.

Calls for action have intensified, with citizens, civil society groups, and international observers demanding accountability and reform.

As communities bury their dead and endure yet another cycle of mourning, the pressure on President Tinubu continues to mount.

The eyes of the world, Amnesty concluded, are now on Nigeria, and history will judge how the nation responded to the cries of Zamfara’s forgotten people.

🚨 Follow DDM WhatsApp channel Now! 🚨

Get breaking news, hot gist, and updates FIRST!

📲 Click to join 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vajkwdc4dTnFHl19vW3g

Don’t be the last to know! 🔥

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook