- Safiu Kehinde
Amnesty International Nigeria has slammed the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau state as the death toll from Sunday’s gunmen attack on Anguwan Community in Jos North Local Government Area hit 30.
NPO Reported that the gunmen had on Sunday evening stormed the community and opened fire on residents, leaving many dead with several others injured.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, Amnesty disclosed that the death toll had surpassed 30 people with many dead bodies still being found around the community.
The humanitarian group demanded investigation over the recent attack, adding that Plateau is increasingly becoming unsafe.
“With the death toll from the Palm Sunday attacks in central Nigeria surpassing 30 people, the Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that enabled the horrific attacks by gunmen on motorbikes on Anguwan Rukuba community of Jos north LGA of Plateau state.
“The area, nature of the attack and timing show how increasingly vulnerable people are to being killed anywhere and anytime.
“More dead bodies are still being found and conveyed to the morgue. Plateau state is increasingly becoming unsafe.” It wrote.
Amnesty thereafter slammed the Tinubu-led administration over alleged failure to curtail the tide of violence across the country.
The group accused the President of failing to priortise safeguarding of lives and property.
“Patterns of recent deadly attacks on rural and now on urban areas of Plateau state, clearly show, the Nigerian authorities have left these communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen.
“Nigerian authorities’ failure to tame the tide of this violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost.
“While President Bola Tinubu has been promising to implement new measures to address the rising insecurity in the country, the attacks in Plateau state and recently in parts of Benue, Zamfara and Kebbi highlight that safeguarding lives and property is not a priority for the current government.” Amnesty stated.
The group demanded genuine commitment to protecting the people as it called for an end to the incessant bloodshed.
“Issuing turgid statements condemning the attacks is not enough and genuine commitment to protecting the people must be demonstrated by adequately protecting lives, holding suspected perpetrators to account and ensuring justice.
“The almost daily nationwide bloodshed must end now!” The statement added.