By Parrot Newspaper 
Amnesty: Over 10,000 Killed in Two Years of Bloodshed in Northern Nigeria Under Tinubu’s Watch
By Parrot Newspaper
ABUJA, NIGERIA – At least 10,217 lives have been lost in a relentless wave of violence across northern and central Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office two years ago, Amnesty International revealed in a scathing report released Thursday. The human rights watchdog condemned the government’s inability to halt the carnage driven by jihadist militants, armed bandits, and communal conflicts.
The report paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape, with entire communities in regions like Benue and Plateau states turned into killing fields. In Benue alone, a staggering 6,896 people were killed, while Plateau recorded 2,630 deaths. Amnesty says its findings cover seven of Nigeria’s most volatile states—excluding Borno, the epicenter of the long-running Boko Haram insurgency.
Since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu pledged to tackle insecurity head-on. Yet, Amnesty’s assessment suggests a worsening crisis. “Instead of improving, the situation has deteriorated,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “The government continues to fail in its obligation to protect the rights to life, security, and liberty.”
Criminal gangs, commonly referred to as “bandits,” have plagued rural communities with ruthless efficiency—killing, kidnapping, and razing villages with little resistance. In Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where herders and farmers frequently clash over land, the violence is often steeped in ethnic and religious tensions, further complicating efforts to restore peace.
Amnesty’s report underscores a dangerous surge in attacks in recent months, particularly in the north, where jihadist groups like Boko Haram remain active despite years of military operations. The resulting humanitarian fallout is dire: hundreds of thousands have been displaced, many forced to live in dire conditions without access to food, shelter, or security.
While Tinubu recently reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring order—issuing what his office described as “fresh marching orders” to the security forces—the violence shows no signs of slowing. Speaking during a recent meeting with Christian leaders, the president vowed that criminal activity would be met with decisive action. Yet, many Nigerians remain skeptical.
Amid the growing insecurity in the north and center, Tinubu’s government is also grappling with separatist unrest in the southeast, further stretching the country’s overstretched security apparatus.
For thousands of grieving families, however, promises are no longer enough.
“The mounting death toll is a stark indictment of the government’s failure to deliver its most basic responsibility: keeping citizens safe,” Sanusi concluded.