By Ayodele Oni
International Human Rights organisation, Amnesty International has, in a new report, denounced continued unlawful killings in the South East, Nigeria.
The report, titled “Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in Southeast Nigeria,” released on Wednesday, the body gave statistics of deceased persons in the region between January, 2021 to June 2023.
Amnesty heaved the blame on the Federal Government for its failure to address the escalating wave of unlawful killings and other grave human rights violations in the Southern East of Nigeria.
The rights watchdog revealed that at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023, with hundreds more forcibly disappeared or arbitrarily detained.
According to Amnesty, the insecurity stems from a combination of violent attacks by armed groups often referred to as unknown gunmen and human rights abuses by state-backed paramilitary outfits and security agencies, adding that over 400 people were killed in Imo State between 2019 and 2021.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi accused the government of turning a blind eye to the atrocities, which have included assassinations, attacks on security personnel, destruction of property and the displacement of entire communities.
He said in part, “The government must stop turning a blind eye to the unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances in the South-East.
“Authorities must ensure all perpetrators state or non-state are brought to justice in fair trials and victims and their families given access to justice and effective remedies”
The report, based on interviews with 100 survivors, victims’ relatives, civil society members and community leaders, documented widespread fear and disruption of daily life.
Amnesty also noted that traditional ceremonies, schooling and commerce have been severely affected, with some communities now completely controlled by armed groups.
The group called for urgent, independent and transparent investigations into all allegations of abuses, stressing that the government must uphold its constitutional and international obligations to protect lives and property in the South-East.
“The consistent fear of attack, the number of people missing, and the high-profile killings underscore the authorities’ failure to maintain law and order.
“Impunity for these crimes continues to have a chilling effect on the enjoyment of other human rights”. Sanusi added
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