Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian military, police, and the regional security outfit Ebube Agu of widespread human rights abuses in Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. In its latest report, A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in Southeast Nigeria, the organization documented over 1,844 deaths between January 2021 and June 2023.
Speaking on Friday, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, claimed the organization possesses “concrete evidence,” including names and addresses of victims allegedly killed by security forces. “We are always in touch with families of victims and believe there is a need to do a soul-searching,” Sanusi said, urging authorities to investigate the cases and ensure justice for victims.
The report highlights incidents allegedly linked to operations targeting suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Sanusi noted that some individuals were reportedly taken from their homes and never seen again. The findings were based on interviews with 100 people, 95 of whom were met face-to-face in the South-East. Amnesty also wrote to the military about the allegations but received no response.
The Nigerian military, however, has rejected the claims. Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, denied allegations of extrajudicial killings, asserting that security operations in the South-East have focused on reducing the capacity of criminal elements. Sanusi refuted suggestions that Amnesty was unfairly targeting the military, pointing out that the report also documented attacks on military personnel and barracks. “We have nothing against the military,” he emphasized, noting that the report also implicated the police and Ebube Agu, a regional security outfit established by some South-East governors but accused of becoming a tool of abuse.
Amnesty International called for a thorough investigation into the documented cases to ensure accountability and justice for victims of human rights violations in the region.
