Amnesty International has raised alarm over the scale of killings and insecurity in Nigeria’s south-east, reporting that at least 1,844 people lost their lives between January 2021 and June 2023.
In a new report, the rights group said the region remains engulfed in abductions, mob violence, electoral clashes, and armed attacks, with the bloodshed continuing beyond the period under review.
Hybrid Violence Beyond a Single Narrative
Amnesty described the crisis as a mix of criminal and political violence, manipulated by both state and non-state actors. It warned against the tendency to blame all unrest on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“The security situation in the south-east involves a hybrid of criminal and political violence that different actors manipulate to suit their interests,” the report said. “Reducing all attacks to IPOB/ESN oversimplifies a complex reality that also includes armed groups commonly labelled as ‘unknown gunmen’.”
The group stressed that these so-called unknown gunmen are not faceless but are often known within the communities where they operate, carrying out assaults, extorting residents, attacking farmers, and clashing with herders.
Multiple Sources of Bloodshed
Amnesty documented repeated raids on police and military targets since 2020, while also highlighting deadly farmer-herder conflicts in Enugu and Ebonyi states that have claimed dozens of lives since 2019.
In Anambra, cult groups tied to drug trafficking were identified as major drivers of killings, with hundreds reportedly dead in unchecked clashes.
“The multifaceted nature of the violence shows no clear distinction between IPOB/ESN and other armed actors, as both have committed abuses,” Amnesty noted.
Human Rights Under Siege
The organisation also faulted IPOB’s enforcement of sit-at-home orders, first issued in August 2021, saying it has led to widespread human rights violations, disrupting education, movement, and access to services.
“Rights to life, freedom of movement, and education have all been undermined,” the report stated, adding that residents are often forced to comply out of fear.
Weak Security Response, Eroded Trust
Amnesty criticised Nigeria’s security agencies for failing to stem the violence or bring perpetrators to justice. “The police appear unable to tackle the crisis or make arrests in several parts of the region,” it said.
According to the group, unchecked killings have deepened fear across the south-east and eroded public trust in state institutions, leaving communities trapped between armed actors and ineffective protection.
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