Nigeria's security situation has dramatically deteriorated during President Bola Tinubu's first two years in office, with armed groups and bandits killing more than 10,000 people across seven states, according to a comprehensive investigation by Amnesty International.

The human rights organization documented at least 10,217 deaths between May 2023 and May 2025 in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Benue State recorded the highest casualties with 6,896 deaths, while Plateau State saw 2,630 people killed during this period.

New Armed Groups Emerge

The security landscape has become increasingly complex with the emergence of new militant organizations, including Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and Mamuda in Kwara State. These groups have joined existing threats like Boko Haram in terrorizing rural communities across Nigeria's northern regions.

Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, criticized the government's response to the crisis. "President Tinubu must fulfill his promises to Nigerians and urgently address the resurgence of the nation's endemic security crisis," Sanusi stated, noting that security measures implemented by the current administration have proven ineffective.

Villages Under Siege

The investigation revealed that 672 villages have been destroyed by bandits across three states, with entire communities forced to abandon their homes. In Zamfara State alone, 481 villages have been sacked while 529 villages remain under bandit control across 13 local government areas.

Daily attacks have become commonplace in Zamfara, with multiple incidents sometimes occurring within 24 hours. The state has recorded 273 deaths and 467 abductions over the past two years, with women and girls comprising the majority of kidnapping victims.

Systematic Destruction

The violence extends beyond killings to systematic destruction of infrastructure. In Benue State, attackers have deliberately targeted essential services, destroying boreholes, medical clinics, schools, grain reserves, and places of worship. All 23 local government areas in the state have experienced such attacks, with 148 villages completely destroyed across seven local governments.

The April 3 attack on Bokkos local government in Plateau State exemplified the brutality, with entire families murdered including children. Between March 27 and April 2, 2025, coordinated assaults targeted five communities simultaneously: Daffo, Gwande, Hurti, Manguna, and Ruwi.

Humanitarian Emergency Looms

The violence has displaced over 515,000 people across the affected regions, creating a looming humanitarian crisis. Benue State alone accounts for 450,000 internally displaced persons, while Plateau State has 65,000 displaced residents. Many communities have been forced to relocate multiple times as attackers target displacement camps and schools serving as shelters.

The displacement of farming communities threatens food security, as agricultural production has been severely disrupted. In Zamfara State's Dangulbi district, farmers watch their sweet potato harvests rot because bandits prevent transportation to markets. Many displaced persons have resorted to begging for survival.

Economic Extortion

Beyond physical violence, armed groups have implemented systematic extortion schemes, demanding tribute payments from rural communities via telephone. Residents face death threats if they fail to meet payment deadlines, creating a climate of economic terrorism alongside physical intimidation.

One resident from Maru local government in Zamfara State described the government's inadequate response: "The only relationship between us and the government is that they issue media statements after we are attacked and killed. When the next attack comes, they will issue another empty statement, while bandits escalate their atrocities."

International Obligations Unfulfilled

Under international human rights law, Nigeria's government has clear obligations to protect citizens' lives and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Amnesty International argues that authorities are systematically failing these responsibilities, creating a cycle of impunity that emboldens further violence.

The organization emphasized that time is running out as attacks continue to escalate daily across multiple states. The failure to hold suspected perpetrators accountable has created an environment where citizens feel completely unsafe, with insurgents and bandits increasingly bold in their operations.

Call for Action

Amnesty International demands immediate concrete action from Nigerian authorities to match their public commitments with effective security measures. The organization has monitored banditry attacks and farmer-herder conflicts since 2016, previously documenting government failures to protect rural communities in a 2020 investigation.

The current crisis represents a significant escalation of Nigeria's long-standing security challenges, with the emergence of new armed groups and the systematic nature of attacks marking a dangerous evolution in the country's instability. Without immediate and comprehensive intervention, the situation threatens to spiral into an even more severe humanitarian catastrophe.