Amnesty Report: Terrorists Kill 10,217 Nigerians, Sack Hundreds of Villages in Tinubu’s First Two Years
Abuja, Nigeria – August 24, 2026 — At least 10,217 people were killed in attacks by armed groups across seven Nigerian states during the first two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to an investigation by Amnesty International first published in May 2025 and widely recirculated in recent days.
The report, released to mark the second anniversary of Tinubu’s inauguration on 29 May 2023, examined violence in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Benue recorded the highest number of deaths at 6,896, followed by Plateau with 2,630.
Heavy Toll on Communities
Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi said the security situation had worsened despite the president’s campaign promises to improve safety.
“Things have only gotten worse,” Sanusi stated, accusing the authorities of failing to adequately protect the rights to life, liberty and security of tens of thousands of Nigerians.
In Zamfara State, more than 273 people were killed and 467 abducted over the two-year period. Bandits sacked hundreds of villages, with Amnesty documenting extensive control of communities across 13 local government areas.
In Katsina, investigators verified over 294 killings and 306 abductions, mostly of women and girls. Kebbi State saw at least 70 deaths in 22 attacks linked to the emergence of the Lakurawa armed group.
Benue and Plateau endured particularly severe assaults. All 23 local government areas of Benue experienced attacks, with more than 200 villages sacked and about 450,000 people displaced.
In Plateau, 167 rural communities were attacked, displacing around 65,000 residents.
Gunmen destroyed boreholes, clinics, schools, grain reserves, and places of worship in many farming communities.
Livelihoods Destroyed, Crisis Looms
The violence has devastated rural economies. Displaced farmers in Benue, Plateau, and Katsina have lost access to their land, with some resorting to begging.
In parts of Zamfara, farmers reported being unable to transport harvested crops to markets because of threats from armed groups.
Residents in several states also described receiving demands for levies from terrorists, with failure to pay met by threats of death.
Amnesty warned of a looming humanitarian crisis as food production collapses in affected areas and displacement continues.
The organization noted the emergence of new armed groups during the period and the persistence of attacks despite existing security deployments.
Call for Accountability
Sanusi urged the Nigerian authorities to take urgent, concrete steps to protect communities, thoroughly investigate attacks, prosecute suspected perpetrators, and provide justice and effective remedies for victims.
“The authorities’ failure to hold suspected perpetrators accountable is fuelling a cycle of impunity,” he said. “The nationwide bloodshed must end now.”
The report has reignited debate over Nigeria’s security challenges more than three years into the Tinubu administration.
While government officials have previously rejected some of Amnesty’s figures and pointed to military operations against bandits and insurgents, the documented scale of civilian deaths and displacement continues to draw concern from human rights organizations and affected communities.
Amnesty International called on the government to match its public commitments with decisive action to end the cycle of violence and restore safety to rural Nigeria.
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