Amnesty International asks Blinken to press Tinubu on Christmas Eve massacre, rights abuses during visit to Nigeria
Amnesty International has asked United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press President Bola Tinubu over the Christmas Eve attacks by suspected herdsmen in Plateau, which saw villages sacked and left at least 195 persons dead, according to official records.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday in response to the news of Mr Blinken’s visit to Nigeria—a part of his trip cuts across different African countries, including Cabo Verde, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Blinken’s visit was scheduled to discuss climate, food, and health security, but the rights organisation has emphasised that Nigeria’s challenges of existential ramifications should take the front burner in the diplomatic fraternisation.
The statement urged the U.S. official to press Mr Tinubu on his promise to protect the country and its citizens and ensure justice and accountability for people affected by the alarming insecurity.
“As we saw during the recent Christmas Eve attack in Plateau State, the Tinubu government is failing on its promise to protect civilians,” said the organisation. “Secretary Blinken must urge President Tinubu to do more than issue statements and actually ensure justice and accountability for civilians harmed by armed groups.” t
It added, “The Nigerian government must do this without further harming civilians in its response.”
The organisation also mentioned the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Kaduna last December. More than 120 civilians were killed in airstrikes- an operation by the Nigerian Army using unmanned drones.
The army took responsibility for the killings and called it an operational error. Although the government promised an investigation, nothing has been heard since.
“Secretary Blinken must press for investigations and accountability for all civilian deaths caused by the military,” Amnesty International added.
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