Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Amnesty International has condemned the latest wave of killings in Nigeria, saying more than 50 people have been killed within one week in separate attacks on rural communities in Sokoto and Plateau states. The organisation said the attacks, which claimed the lives of at least 32 residents in Sokoto State and more than 20 people in Plateau State, once again exposed the failure of Nigerian authorities to protect citizens from armed groups.
According to Amnesty International, at least 32 residents were killed on August 12, 2026, when armed attackers invaded communities in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The organisation also condemned a separate attack on Binper community in the Bwai district of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where more than 20 people were reportedly killed while several others sustained injuries. Amnesty International said the killings by different armed groups demonstrated the urgent need for the government to take decisive action to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives. "These violent attacks by different armed groups once again show utter failure of Nigerian authorities to protect lives and property," the organisation said.
The rights group called on Nigerian authorities to immediately launch independent, impartial and thorough investigations into the attacks in Plateau and Sokoto states. It also urged the government to ensure that anyone suspected of involvement in the killings is identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, stressing that perpetrators must face justice through fair trials. Amnesty International said the Nigerian government has a constitutional responsibility to protect its citizens, particularly their lives and welfare. It cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. The organisation further noted that Nigeria's obligations extend beyond its domestic laws, pointing to international human rights instruments to which the country is a party. According to Amnesty International, Articles 4 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights protect the rights to life and bodily integrity, while the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) also guarantees the protection of the right to life and bodily safety.
The organisation therefore urged the Federal Government to urgently strengthen measures to protect communities at risk, prevent further attacks and ensure accountability for those responsible for the killings. It warned that continued failure to hold perpetrators accountable could deepen a culture of impunity and encourage armed groups to carry out further attacks against civilians. Amnesty International said the government must act urgently to end the bloodshed, warning that every failure to prevent attacks and bring perpetrators to justice places more Nigerian lives at risk.
The attacks in Sokoto State occurred on August 12, 2026, when armed attackers invaded communities in Tangaza Local Government Area, killing at least 32 residents. In a separate incident, suspected terrorists attacked the Binper community in Bwai District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, between midnight on Monday, August 17, and the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, killing more than 20 people and injuring several others. Residents reported that the attackers, armed with rifles and machetes, moved from house to house, killing residents in their sleep. Some residents remain missing, and several others sustained serious injuries and are receiving treatment in hospitals. The attacks have sparked outrage and protests, with women from the Binper community staging a peaceful protest following the killing of 24 persons by gunmen on Monday night. The protesters, holding leaves above their heads in a traditional sign of mourning, demanded an end to the recurring attacks on their community. The victims were given a mass burial on Tuesday, while several others who sustained injuries remained in hospitals fighting for their lives.
The killings in Plateau and Sokoto states are part of a broader pattern of violence that has plagued Nigeria's Middle Belt and North-West regions for years. In Plateau State alone, at least 2,630 people have been killed in the two years since President Bola Tinubu took office on the promise of enhancing security. The attacks have been attributed to a complex mix of communal conflicts, banditry, and terrorism, with armed groups such as the Lakurawa militants operating in Sokoto and Kebbi states. Despite repeated government promises and military interventions, the violence has continued unabated, with communities like Binper paying the highest price. The latest attacks have renewed calls for the government to take decisive action to end the bloodshed and hold perpetrators accountable. Amnesty International's call for an independent investigation into the attacks has added to the growing pressure on the Nigerian authorities to address the security crisis and protect vulnerable communities.
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