NCC slams amnesty report on killings in Nigeria

By Abubakar Yunusa

The North Central Citizens Council (NCCC) has sharply criticised a recent Amnesty International report alleging widespread killings across several Nigerian states, accusing the organisation of peddling falsehoods and undermining national security efforts.

In a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Mohammed Eneji; General Secretary, Grace Abu; and Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Omodayo, the group described the report as “malicious, misleading, and an attempt to misinform the world about the actual security situation in Nigeria”.

Amnesty International had reportedly urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfil his campaign promises and tackle Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, claiming that more than 10,000 people were killed in attacks by gunmen in seven states since May 2023.

But the NCCC pushed back, stating that such claims were inconsistent with verified government data. “It is on record that Amnesty International over the years has been a vanguard of misinformation,” the statement said.

The Council also referenced a report by a U.S. congressman alleging that many international NGOs operating in Nigeria’s northeast were created to fuel insecurity for political purposes.

They asserted that the latest report by Amnesty International lends credence to those claims, suggesting that foreign organisations may be working to tarnish Nigeria’s global image.

While acknowledging that Nigeria faces real security challenges, the NCCC commended President Tinubu’s administration, particularly the efforts of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, for making progress in combating insecurity.

“Several of the figures and assertions contained therein are inconsistent with verified data in Nigeria’s possession,” the group noted.

The NCCC warned that continued publication of “unverified” information could provoke legal consequences and mass demonstrations, calling on Amnesty International to stop spreading what it described as inciting narratives.

The group further demanded a total ban on Amnesty International’s activities in Nigeria and urged other African nations to re-evaluate the presence and influence of such organisations.

“This approach not only seeks to safeguard national interests but also aims to foster an environment where international cooperation can thrive without compromising the autonomy and integrity of sovereign states,” the statement said .