Zamfara: Amnesty slams Tinubu over killing of Zamfara Chief Imam, children after N11Million ransom
pannigeriannews
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Global human rights body, Amnesty International, said President Bola Tinubu has failed to tackle the insecurity he promised to address.
The body stated this after the abduction and killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque, Alkali Salihu Suleiman, and his three children by armed bandits in Zamfara State.
The body, in a statement on Thursday, condemned the killings, pointing to the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its citizens and the lack of accountability for the perpetrators of such violence.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the gruesome killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque, Alkali Salihu Suleiman 79, along with his three children — after the bandits received N11m of the N20m ransom they demanded,” the organisation said in a statement.
“The Chief Imam and his three children were abducted by gunmen during Ramadan fasting in March. While in the custody of the bandits, they were subjected to almost daily rounds of torture and other ill-treatement. Apart from beatings, they were also made to go long hours without food or water,” the statement added.
Amnesty also criticised the Nigerian authorities for their inability to protect lives and property while armed groups continue their atrocities, which include abductions, killings, and sexual violence.
“The Nigerian authorities consistently failed to protect lives and property, while the killers continue to carry out horrific atrocities that include slaughtering people, abduction, amputation, rape of women and girls and razing of entire villages,” Amnesty said.
The rights group highlighted the ongoing nature of attacks on rural communities in northern Nigeria, accusing security forces of failing to respond effectively.
“Terrifying attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years. The current failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful and unacceptable,” Amnesty added.
Amnesty also stated that the continuing violence across states such as Zamfara shows that the government has failed to take decisive action against armed groups.
“Almost daily attacks across Zamfara and other states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having free reigns of impunity across many parts of Nigeria,” the organisation concluded.
“President Bola Tinubu promised to tackle insecurity nationwide, but so far, security of lives seems to be low on the list of his government’s priorities.”
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