Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of 24 farmers by bandits during an attack on Sauna Ruwan Gora ward of Talata Mafara local government area of Zamfara state. Such killings have been going on across Zamfara state, with many communities left constantly bracing up for the next attack.
The gunmen attacked the village and went shooting at close range any adult found working on his farm. Some farmers escaped with life threatening injuries. This is is yet another proof that whatever security strategy adopted to deal with the situation in Zamfara is not working.
Previous military interventions have failed to end the killings, especially in rural area. The fact this attack happened at a village about 16 kilometres from Talata Mafara shows that no part of Zamfara state is safe.
Across Zamfara state, villagers described a pattern where they receive warnings ahead of attacks, including by phone, ordering them to pay huge sums of money or be killed or abducted. For years, in several communities, villagers said they were afraid to venture more than a few kilometres into the bush, which is preventing them from farming.
The crisis in Zamfara is making life hell for villagers, yet it is clearly low down on the list of government priorities. These killings must stop immediately, and those suspected of criminal responsibility must be brought to justice in fair trials.
The Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to protect the lives of everybody in the country, including people in poor and rural communities.
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