Amnesty International has consistently called on the Nigerian government to investigate and address the rampant killings and human rights violations in the country’s South-East region.1 The calls for a probe are not new but are a response to an ongoing security crisis that has seen a high number of deaths and abuses by both state and non-state actors.2
Key Findings and Demands from Amnesty International:
- High Death Toll: In a recent report, “A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria,” Amnesty International stated that at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023.3 The organization notes that the actual number may be much higher, as many people have been reported missing or forcibly disappeared since August 2015.4
- Impunity and Government Failure: The human rights watchdog has repeatedly criticized the Nigerian government for its “persistent failure” to address the security crisis, which has created a “free-for-all reign of impunity.”5
- Perpetrators: The report identifies a mix of actors responsible for the killings and abuses, including:
- Nigerian security forces (military, police, and Department of State Services).6
- Pro-Biafran groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).7
- State-backed paramilitary outfits like “Ebube Agu.”8
- Criminal gangs and cult groups, often referred to as “unknown gunmen.”9
- Nature of Abuses: Amnesty International has documented a wide range of human rights violations, including:
- Unlawful and extrajudicial killings.10
- Torture and other ill-treatment.11
- Enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.12
- Displacement of residents.
- Restrictions on freedom of movement due to enforced “sit-at-home” orders by IPOB/ESN.13
- Specific Incidents: Amnesty’s reports have highlighted specific incidents, such as:
- The killing of seven youths by members of the Ebubeagu security outfit in Imo State in July 2022.14
- The killing of at least 150 pro-Biafra activists by security forces between August 2015 and August 2016.15
- The deaths of at least 115 people killed by security forces between March and June 2021.16
- Call for Action: Amnesty International is urging Nigerian authorities to uphold their obligations under international law by:
- Conducting prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into all allegations of abuses.17
- Bringing all suspected perpetrators to justice in fair trials.
- Ensuring victims and their families have access to justice and effective remedies.18
