Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to launch an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of at least 15 people by armed assailants in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, warning that the escalating violence poses a grave threat to the right to life.
In a statement on Tuesday, the human rights organisation said the latest attacks underscore the worsening insecurity in southern Benue and the continued vulnerability of rural communities to deadly assaults.
According to Amnesty International, the deadliest attack occurred on July 28 in Efeyi-Ugboju, Ugboju District, where at least 14 residents were killed by armed attackers. The incident came barely 24 hours after another attack in nearby Ipom-Ugboju reportedly claimed one life.
The organisation described the back-to-back attacks as evidence of an unrelenting campaign of violence that has continued to devastate communities across the area.
It lamented that residents of Otukpo and other parts of Benue State have been left exposed to armed groups operating with apparent impunity and a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life.
Amnesty International criticised what it described as the persistent failure of Nigerian authorities to prevent recurring attacks or ensure accountability for those responsible, warning that the situation has entrenched a dangerous cycle of violence, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.
“The persistent failure by the Nigerian government to proactively prevent these attacks or hold perpetrators accountable has created a dangerous cycle of violence, forcing local residents to live under constant threat of death, displacement and destruction of their livelihoods,” the organisation said.
It called on the authorities to conduct a transparent, independent and impartial investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible in accordance with the rule of law.
The rights group further stressed that the government has a constitutional obligation to protect lives and property and must take decisive action to end the recurring attacks and restore confidence among affected communities.
The latest killings add to the growing wave of violence that has continued to affect several communities in Benue State, raising fresh concerns over security and the protection of civilians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
