Rights activists slam Abuja’s claims on security in the face of continued mass abductions and killings
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“Security cannot be declared improved when rural communities remain under siege by armed groups. Peace cannot be claimed when citizens live in fear of both criminal elements and unlawful security force actions. Improvement must be measured by lives saved, not by political narrative” – NCAMKI.
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Rights activities have poured cold water on the claim by the Federal Government of improved security in the face of continued mass abductions and killings North and South, with the epicentres in Sokoto and Zamfara in the North West, and Benue and Plateau in the North Central, and the South East.
The holes were picked by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions, and Impunity (NCAMKI).
Both faulted National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and service chiefs for celebrating the capture of two terrorist leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud Al-Nigeria.
Emmanuel Onwubiko (HURIWA National Coordinator)
“Such a celebration is misplaced when ordinary Nigerians in Benue, Plateau, Kwara, and Zamfara still face almost daily attacks.
“We wonder why the NSA and other Service Chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police, are in celebratory mood for capturing just two kingpins of terrorism in Nigeria even as thousands of other Nigerians are facing imminent attacks by terrorists made up mostly of Fulani herders.”
Onwubiko cited some other recent incidents, including in Bankole town in Ifelodun Council of Kwara where 50 gunmen attacked on August 16, killed the Olu Ode, kidnapped a young girl named Mary, and abducted other residents.
He also condemned the invasion of St. Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar Agu Centre in Katsina-Ala Council of Benue where Catholic priests reported that armed herdsmen destroyed a church, burnt the parish house, and occupied 26 outstations.
HURIWA reported Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila, Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association, Katsina-Ala Diocese Chairman, as having lamented that “the barbaric attack of August 11, 2025 has finally shut down all pastoral activities since all 26 outstations have been occupied by the armed herdsmen long before now.
“The malevolent attack left in its wake the desecration and destruction of the Parish Church, the destruction of the Parish Secretariat, the burning to ashes of the Father’s House, destruction of household items, pastoral logistics and vehicles in addition to many other valuable items.”
It also accused security agencies of committing human rights violations in the South East, particularly the forced disappearance of youths, and urged the government to speedily prosecute arrested terrorists or hand them over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
NCAMKI (public situation report covering July 15 to August 14)
NCAMKI reported that 101 Nigerians were killed in seven major violent incidents across Zamfara, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Bauchi, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It cited, among others, the execution of 38 hostages in Banga village in Zamfara despite the payment of N50 million ransom, and the killing of a young phone repairer by a soldier in Wuse district, Abuja.
“Security cannot be declared improved when rural communities remain under siege by armed groups. Peace cannot be claimed when citizens live in fear of both criminal elements and unlawful security force actions. Improvement must be measured by lives saved, not by political narrative,” the coalition said.
Nigerians remain unsafe, it stressed, because government efforts have focused more on public relations than measurable reforms, and asked the authorities to demonstrate how they intend to protect vulnerable communities by holding both terrorists and security operatives accountable.
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