Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – Amnesty International (AI) has accused the Nigerian government of complicity in the killing of 3, 641 lives that have been wasted in the recent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across Nigeria.
In its latest report, AI claimed that failure of the Federal Government to investigate communal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice has fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country, resulting in at least 3,641 deaths in the past three years and the displacement of thousands more, Amnesty International revealed today.
In some cases, security forces had prior warning of an imminent raid but did nothing to stop or prevent the killings, looting and burning of homes. Our research shows that these attacks were well planned and coordinated, with the use of weapons like machine guns and AK-47 rifles”, says Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria
In a new report, “Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders”, Amnesty International found that 57 per cent of the 3,641 recorded deaths occurred in 2018. According to AI, Security forces were often positioned close to the attacks, which lasted hours and sometimes days, yet were slow to act.
“In some cases, security forces had prior warning of an imminent raid but did nothing to stop or prevent the killings, looting and burning of homes. Our research shows that these attacks were well planned and coordinated, with the use of weapons like machine guns and AK-47 rifles”, says Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
According to AI, the Nigerian government has displayed what can only be described as gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population and end the intensifying conflict between herders and farmers.
“The authorities’ lethargy has allowed impunity to flourish and the killings to spread to many parts of the country, inflicting greater suffering on communities who already live in constant fear of the next attack. Our research shows that these attacks were well planned and coordinated, with the use of weapons like machine guns and AK-47 rifles. Yet, little has been done by the authorities in terms of prevention, arrests and prosecutions, even when information about the suspected perpetrators was available.”
Amnesty International started documenting clashes between farmers and herders from January 2016. Between August 2017 and September 2018, researchers conducted 10 field trips to 56 villages in five states.
The report, according to AI is based on 262 interviews with victims, eyewitnesses, community leaders, medical practitioners, religious leaders and government officials, including members of the security forces. Researchers also analysed 230 documents, including medical records and reports by the security forces.
