Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate the reported deaths of at least 150 Fulani individuals, including many children, allegedly detained in a military-controlled facility in Kwara State.
In a statement released on Friday, the organisation said the victims were among about 1,500 Fulani pastoralists held for months at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, where they were taken after fleeing escalating attacks by armed groups across parts of the state.
According to Amnesty International, those detained have been subjected to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, severe food shortages, restricted movement and limited access to healthcare, leading to widespread malnutrition and disease. The group warned that at least 100 pregnant women in the camp face life-threatening risks due to inadequate maternal care.
The organisation’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, said affected communities are “caught between armed groups and the military,” alleging that instead of receiving protection, they are being deprived of fundamental rights, including liberty, movement, education and healthcare.
Field research conducted by Amnesty between April 5 and 11 involved visits to the camp and surrounding communities, with interviews of 60 individuals, including detainees, survivors and family members. Testimonies gathered described multiple deaths attributed to hunger and illness, with some respondents claiming that dozens of fatalities occurred within short periods.
Witness accounts cited in the report detail severe deprivation, including irregular access to food and basic medical services. Some respondents also alleged discriminatory profiling, harassment and extortion linked to their ethnic identity.
Amnesty International stated that many of those detained were displaced from communities in Asa, Edu, Ifelodun and Patigi local government areas following both attacks by armed groups and ongoing military operations launched in January 2026. It alleged that residents were instructed to leave their villages and were subsequently transported to the camp, where they have remained under prolonged detention.
The organisation described the detentions as arbitrary and in violation of Nigeria’s constitutional provisions and international human rights obligations. It called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the reported deaths, as well as accountability for any officials found responsible.
Amnesty further urged the government to end what it termed unlawful detention practices, ensure access to justice for victims and their families, and take immediate steps to improve humanitarian conditions for those affected.
The Nigerian authorities have yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
