Amnesty slams government over Plateau massacre, warns of rising impunity

Cityscope, Crime Diary, International

ABUJA, NIGERIA, 31 March 2026 (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the Nigerian authorities to ensure adequate protection for the people of Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, following the Palm Sunday massacre in the north-central state. The human rights organisation called for thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into the blood-curdling incident, stressing that accountability is essential to prevent further violence.

The mass burial of victims held today, Amnesty noted, is yet another tragic reminder of the government’s failure under President Bola Tinubu to safeguard lives.

 In a statement on Tuesday, the rights body presented grim statistics of killings in Plateau State between December 2023 and February 2024, revealing that at least 1,336 people were murdered by terrorist elements. Of those killed, 533 were women, 263 were children, and 540 were men. More than 29,554 people were displaced, including 13,093 children and 16,461 women, underscoring the devastating humanitarian toll.

Amnesty International further warned that the consistent inability of authorities to bring suspected perpetrators to justice is fuelling impunity and emboldening attackers. It emphasised that unless urgent steps are taken to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute those responsible, the cycle of violence will continue to destabilise communities and erode public trust in government institutions.