Herdsmen massacre: It’s not enough to issue condemnations; make arrests – Amnesty tells FG

Amnesty International, AI, has urged the federal government to make arrests and bring to justice, the rampaging herdsmen that have been killing innocent Nigerians in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna as well as the cultist killings in Rivers and other parts of the country.

The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, gave the comment in a statemen made available to newsmen by the organisation’s Media manager in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.

According to the statement, the only way to start taming the wave of violent killings endangering lives across the country is for the federal government to punish those responsible for the dastardly act.

The AI’s director who lamented that “the pattern of attacks and reprisals is reaching a boiling point because of the failure of authorities to carry out investigations and end the rampant impunity for previous crimes, also said that more than 57 people were killed in Benue state on January 1, while in Rivers state, at least 16 people were killed also on January 1.

He also said that while at least 6 people were killed in Taraba state on January 5, that in Kaduna state, a traditional ruler and his pregnant wife were killed on January 1, 2018.

Amnesty International therefore tasked the federal government saying, “ that herdsmen, ethnic militias and cult groups kill Nigerians with ease should be a wakeup call for the Nigerian government to ensure accountability for every violation of human rights.”

The statement reads thus:

“Responding to a spate of killings in Nigeria over the past week by herdsmen, ethnic militias and cult groups which have left dozens dead across parts of Benue, Kaduna, Rivers and Taraba states, Osai Ojigho Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said:

“The Nigerian authorities must do more to end this epidemic of gruesome killings of dozens of people across the country.

“Though these clashes have been going on for years, we have seen a disturbing escalation in the bloodshed since the start of 2018. The government must make better use of its resources to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice.

“No-one has ever been held to account for the many murders committed during these clashes.

“The pattern of attacks and reprisals is reaching a boiling point because of the failure of authorities to carry out investigations and end the rampant impunity for previous crimes. It is not enough for government to make pronouncements or issue condemnations, it is vital that those responsible are punished.

“This is the only way to start to tame this wave of violence that is endangering lives across the country. That herdsmen, ethnic militias and cult groups kill Nigerians with ease should be a wakeup call for the Nigerian government to ensure accountability for every violation of human rights.”