Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to protect citizens as attacks and mass abductions continue to escalate across several northern states.
In a statement shared on Monday, the global rights organisation said the recent rise in violent incidents—particularly kidnappings and school invasions—highlights a deepening national crisis that has left communities terrified and vulnerable.
Over the past few months, armed men have launched repeated assaults in Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara and Zamfara States. One of the most shocking incidents occurred in November 2025, when 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State—one of the largest mass abductions in Nigeria’s recent history.
Just days earlier, a girls’ boarding school in Kebbi State was attacked, with 25 students taken by armed bandits.
These events form part of a worrying pattern. According to new data from SBM Intelligence, states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger and Kebbi remain hotspots for large-scale kidnappings, with rural communities often bearing the heaviest burden.
Amnesty International noted that attacks have become disturbingly frequent, stating:
“In Nigeria, attacks by gunmen and abductions for ransom are increasingly becoming a daily routine.”
The organisation criticised the government for failing to uphold its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens and ensure justice for victims.
“The government of President Bola Tinubu is failing in its constitutional and international human rights obligations to protect the lives of all people and to ensure access to justice for victims,” the group said.
It added that perpetrators of killings and abductions are “invariably escaping justice,” leaving affected communities without any sense of redress or closure.
Amnesty International also highlighted the devastating impact on rural areas, where fear and uncertainty have become entrenched.
“In many rural communities, only the graveyards are expanding daily,” it warned.