Amnesty International Slams Tinubu Govt Over Rising Armed Group Violence

Amnesty International has strongly criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of lacking a clear and effective strategy to combat the escalating violence by armed groups across Nigeria.

The scathing remarks followed the brutal murder of Alkali Salihu Suleiman, the 79-year-old Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque in Zamfara State, and his three children. The victims were reportedly killed even after ₦11 million of a ₦20 million ransom had been paid to their abductors.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Amnesty International described the killings as yet another “sobering reminder” of the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its citizens from armed bandits and insurgents who have operated with near-total impunity for years.

“Alkali Salihu Suleiman and his children were abducted in March during the holy month of Ramadan. While in the custody of the bandits, they were subjected to almost daily rounds of torture and other ill-treatment. Apart from beatings, they were also made to go long hours without food or water,” the organization said.

Amnesty emphasized that armed groups are gaining ground, particularly in Zamfara and neighboring states, citing near-daily attacks that continue with minimal government response or accountability.

“Almost daily attacks across Zamfara and other states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having free reign across many parts of Nigeria,” the group added.

The organization called for urgent action, highlighting the rising toll on innocent civilians and the worsening state of human rights and public safety in Nigeria’s northwest and central regions.

The Tinubu administration is yet to respond to Amnesty’s statement. However, public pressure is mounting as citizens demand a shift from rhetoric to results in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and rural terror.

With the brutal murder of a respected religious leader and his children making headlines, many Nigerians are once again questioning whether security reform and justice will ever be more than a campaign promise.