Tribal violence kills 112 people killed in northern Nigeria in 1 month: Amnesty

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) - Over 112 people have been killed amid tribal violence in two states in northern Nigeria, with several houses destroyed, according to Amnesty International on Tuesday.

"At least 112 people were killed, 160 abducted and thousands displaced in communities in Kaduna and Plateau states" since July as of Aug. 5, the rights group said in a statement

Accusing Nigerian authorities of failing to protect the lives and property of residents, it said they had enabled the deadly attacks in many neighborhoods in these states.

Amnesty urged the government to bring perpetrators of the attacks to justice before issuing statements to condemn the attacks.

"Our findings show that despite clear signs that there will be retaliatory attacks, enough is not being done to prevent the bloodshed, thereby fueling the ongoing circle of violence," it said

Osai Ojigho, the director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said: "Beyond issuing statements and condemning attacks after they happen; government needs to rein in attackers and bring suspects to justice."

One retaliatory attack on July 31 and Aug. 1 led to the killing of at least 17 people and the displacement of hundreds in farming communities in the Bassa and Riyom local government areas in Plateau state, noted the group's statement.

In Kaduna, at least 78 people were killed and 160 abducted, including 121 students at a Baptist high school, by gunmen, known locally as bandits, between July 3 and Aug. 5, it added, citing its own investigation.

At least 34 people have been killed in Plateau state, including seven herders who were attacked on July 1 in the Dogon Gaba area and two others who were lynched at the village of Fusa while trying to find a missing cow, it added.

"Villagers from farming communities informed Amnesty International that innocent people and communities that know nothing about the attacks are sometimes targeted for reprisal."​​​​​​​

Malam Bashir Mohammed, a public affairs commentator based in the northern state of Kano, said that only sustained dialogue could resolve the lingering communal disputes in the West African country.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Mohammed said communal disputes in some parts of the country had taken a disastrous toll, leading to the death of innocent people.