Amnesty International Nigeria said Katsina State is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster following persistent attacks by bandits on rural communities in the state.
The human rights group made this known in a Monday statement shared on Facebook.
This comes after a fresh attack on Sayaya village in Matazu local government area of the state on Sunday.
The bandits said to be more than 100 reportedly killed a policeman and two others and attacked a police station.
The assailants also razed a health centre and other buildings in the community.
Amnesty lamented that bandits have sustained attacks on rural communities despite a peace deal with the state government.
The group said bandits have killed no fewer than 1591 people in Katsina between 2021 and 2025 and warned that the state is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.
Amnesty said, “Despite so-called peace deal gunmen and bandits continue to raze entire villages, kill people and abduct women and girls.
“The latest atrocity was at Sayaya village of Matazu local government area.
“Gunmen attacked the village and set all cars and motorbikes on fire. Then they went from house to house setting fire to everything they can find. After the bandits left the entire village was in ashes.
“The bandits that invaded the village were said to be over 100 on motorbikes carrying sophisticated weapons.
“Rural communities in Katsina state continue in constant fear of attacks by bandits.
“Katsina state government continues to fail the people, while bandits are having a field day, killing and abducting people almost daily.
“In what appears to be disdain for the pain of the people affected by banditry, in January Katsina state government approved the release of 70 notorious bandits in what was described bizarrely as ‘a peace deal.’ Between 2021 and 2025 bandits have killed at least 1,591 people.
“Some victims of the recent attacks across Katsina state told Amnesty International that security forces were absent during most of the attacks, arriving only hours or a day after the attackers had left.
“Katsina state is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.”
The group argued that the spate of these killings is an evidence of failure of authorities to protect the people.
“Inability of authorities to bring attackers to justice is fueling impunity,” it stressed.
(TheSun)
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