Amnesty International has condemned the killing of at least 41 people in attacks by gunmen across Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states.
The organisation described the incidents as a clear failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives. It shared this view in a post on its official X handle on Sunday.
According to the post, gunmen attacked Kasuwan Daji in Kabe District of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
The attackers reportedly killed at least 30 people, abducted several others, set the village market on fire and looted food and other valuables.
“This attack is yet another indication of the utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives,” Amnesty wrote.
The attacks came a day after gunmen killed at least seven people in Bong village, Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to Amnesty, reports indicate that the assailants conducted house-to-house searches and carried out targeted killings.
On the same day, gunmen also attacked Sabon Kaura community in Agunu Ward, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing four members of the same family.
“These attacks are part of a wider escalation of violence in rural areas of southern Kaduna,” Amnesty wrote.
It also criticised the government’s failure to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The Nigerian authorities have left rural communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen who have killed thousands of people in the north of the country since the beginning of 2020. President Bola Tinubu claims that he has repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killing so that people can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed.
“The consistent failure to bring the suspected perpetrators to justice is unacceptable. Some affected villagers told Amnesty International that they are increasingly feeling that the government left them at the mercy of their attackers,” the organisation said.
“The government must protect its people, and the increasing number of deaths in northern Nigeria shows it is failing to do so.”
Amnesty condemns killing of 41 Nigerians in coordinated gunmen attacks
Amnesty condemns killing of 41 Nigerians in coordinated gunmen attacks
