Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to take immediate and concrete steps to end the escalating violence and insecurity in Zamfara State, where armed groups continue to carry out deadly attacks with near-total impunity.
In a strongly worded statement, the human rights organisation said that residents of Zamfara are paying a heavy price for the government’s failure to secure their lives and communities. Daily raids, abductions, and killings by gunmen have become a grim reality for thousands, with farming activities disrupted and entire villages displaced.
“This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict,” Amnesty International declared, warning that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has so far failed the people of Zamfara.
Citing eyewitness testimonies, the group revealed that gunmen are not only conducting raids but also extorting rural communities by imposing levies through threatening phone calls. “Failure to pay these levies is met with death,” the statement said.
Between 2023 and 2025, over 273 people have reportedly been killed and 467 abducted in Zamfara. In that time, 481 villages have been destroyed, and 529 others remain under the control of armed groups across 13 of the state’s 14 local government areas.
Amnesty highlighted a recent attack on 24 June in Wanke district, where nine people were slaughtered. Thousands of women and children displaced by the violence are currently taking refuge in overcrowded shelters and neighbouring states, many surviving by begging.
Major highways and key areas across Zamfara are now reportedly under the control of armed groups, making travel and humanitarian access extremely difficult. Despite repeated military deployments, the crisis continues unabated.
Amnesty International is urging the Nigerian authorities to prioritise the situation in Zamfara and to implement effective, rights-based strategies that protect civilians and restore security.
“Time is running out. The bloodshed must end now,” the organisation warned.
