Amnesty International says Tinubu govt lacks strategy as Kaduna abduction exposes security failure

Amnesty International has accused the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu of lacking an effective plan to end persistent attacks by armed groups across Nigeria, following the mass abduction of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State.

In a statement posted on its verified X handle on Sunday, the human rights organisation said the latest attack in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area, underscores the failure of the government’s security measures.

“The latest mass abduction clearly shows President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that killed thousands of people,” Amnesty wrote.

The organisation added that the government’s security measures are not yielding results, insisting that the continued spate of violence indicates a lack of coherent strategy and action.

“Whatever security measures being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working,” the post stated.

Amnesty International said residents of Kurmin Wali and families of the abducted worshippers informed the group that gunmen stormed the village and moved from one church to another, forcibly dragging people away.

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The rights group’s statement also noted that the police and the Kaduna State government initially denied the incident, dismissing it as fake news or suggesting it was propaganda by the opposition.

The alleged attack has intensified public concerns about the security situation in Kaduna State and the country as a whole, where repeated abductions and killings have continued despite government assurances.

Amnesty’s condemnation follows months of rising insecurity in Nigeria, including attacks on communities, mass kidnappings and violent clashes between armed groups and security forces. The rights group argued that these incidents reveal a deep and worsening crisis that the federal government has not adequately addressed.

As of the time of the statement, the Federal Government had not issued a detailed response to Amnesty International’s claim.

The Kaduna State government also has yet to provide a full account of the incident, even as residents and families of the abducted demand clarity and action.

The development is likely to add pressure on the Tinubu administration to provide a clear and workable security strategy to protect civilians and curb the activities of armed groups operating across Nigeria.