Amnesty International has said 371 people have been killed in Zamfara State since January this year, while dozens of villages sack due to herders, farmers clashes and bandits attacks. It said out of the 371 people killed, at least 238 of these killings took place after the deployment of the Nigerian air force, accusing the government of neglecting the most vulnerable communities in the region.
The human rights body described the security situation in the state as “escalating”, with daily killings and kidnappings by armed bandits leaving villagers in constant fear of attack.Zamfara State has been facing a deadly conflict since 2012 as a result of clashes between farmers and herders. Gradually, the conflict turned into armed banditry, with the first major attack in ’Yar Galadima in April 2014 when 200 people were killed.
The armed bandits raid villages and kidnap for ransom. On 22 November 2017, the government ordered the deployment of a Special Forces battalion in Zamfara after gunmen attacked communities in Shinkafi and Maradun LGAs.
On 4 April 2018, the Nigerian Air Force deployed Special Forces in the state following attacks in Bawan Daji village in Anka LGA.
On 6 June 2018, following a National Security Council meeting held between security chiefs and the president, the Inspector General of Police announced that 2,000 special security personnel comprising the military, police and civil defence would be deployed to Zamfara.
In a statement by Media Manager, Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, quoted the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, as saying thousands of people have been displaced by a conflict which began in 2012 as a result of clashes between farmers and herders.
“This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict. The authorities’ failure to act has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people over the course of two bloody years,” Ojigho said.
“When we visited the region, villagers told us that they had pleaded with the government to help them after receiving warning letters from the bandits ahead of attacks but had received no protection. The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the situation, but the mounting death toll tells a different story,” Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said.
According to Amnesty International “On Friday 27 July, 18 villages in the Mashema, washabawa and Birane districts of Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state were attacked, leaving at least 42 people dead. At least 18,000 residents of the affected villages who were displaced over the weekend are now taking refuge at various locations in the local government headquarters. The following day a further 15 people were kidnapped in Maradun local government area.
“On Saturday 28 July, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the deployment of 1,000 troops to Zamfara. This is the third time since November 2017 that the authorities have deployed the military in response to attacks, but villagers told Amnesty International that this has not translated into protection for remote, vulnerable communities.
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