Amnesty International's Report on Killings: Depth Lacking, Overly Dramatic - DHQ Criticizes Report
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of Nigeria has rejected Amnesty International's report on violence and displacement in the country under President Bola Tinubu's administration, calling it a mere generalization of the situation.
In a statement on Friday, Major General Markus Kangye, the Director of Defence Media Operations, accused the human rights organization of disregarding the achievements of the Nigerian Armed Forces in combatting crimes and terrorism. Amnesty International had previously claimed that at least 10,217 people have lost their lives and 672 villages have been destroyed in the past two years, with Benue and Plateau states reporting the highest casualties.
Kangye, however, challenged these figures and the report's methodology, arguing that it lacked contextual depth and verifiable statistics. He highlighted the military's successes since Tinubu took office, such as the neutralization of over 5,000 insurgents, the recovery of more than 350 communities from terrorist control, and the rescue of over 1,200 kidnapped civilians. Kangye emphasized that the presence of troops in volatile regions like Maru (Zamfara), Bokkos (Plateau), and Logo (Benue) had facilitated the return of displaced people to their homes under military protection.
The DHQ also contested the report's claims about Plateau State, stating that no displacement had occurred between 2023 and 2025. Moreover, it argued that Amnesty had overstated the security situation in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina states. The military reported over 2,000 offensive operations in Zamfara alone, leading to the rescue of 687 abductees, the elimination of over 1,500 terrorists, and the destruction of bandit enclaves.
Regarding Benue State, the DHQ disputed the claim of 6,896 fatalities, stating that there had been only 693 deaths in the region during the review period. It also pointed out that most of the reported displacement figures were inconsistent with ground realities, as many internally displaced person (IDP) camps had become nearly empty.
The DHQ's statement highlights the ongoing conflict between security agencies and armed groups in Nigeria, with differing perspectives on the scale and nature of the safety threats faced by the country. The defence headquarters underscored the complex socio-political and economic elements underlying these threats, demanding a nuanced understanding and recognition of the military's accomplishments under the current administration.
- TheRepswerealsocriticalofAmnestyInternational'sreport,questioning the accuracy of the claims made about the number of displaced people in Nigeria, particularly in states like Benue and Plateau.
- The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has taken advantage of the situation, accusing President Tinubu's government of downplaying the severity of war-and-conflicts and crimes-and-justice in Nigeria.
- In a recent press conference, the PDP spokesperson, Abubakar Suleiman, called for a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Amnesty International, urging the Nigerian Government to takenecessary action against bandits and insurgents to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens.
- Meanwhile, theWAECexaminationshavebeensusceptibletothechallengesbroughtforth by the security situation in Nigeria, with kidnapping incidents disrupting the exams in various regions.
- The Nigerian Government, under President Tinubu, has vowed to improve education standards and infrastructure in the country, but the ongoing security issues have hindered these efforts.
- As the political landscape of Naijaevolves, tensions remain high between security agencies and armed groups, with debates around the scale and nature of the safety threats continuing to shape the general-news discourse on Nigeria.
