Amnesty International Defends Report On Killings After Clerics Accused It Of Bias
Amnesty International Nigeria has responded to criticism from some Northern clerics and influencers, accusing the organisation of biased reporting on killings in Nigeria.
The controversy followed a recent report that claimed that 10,000 people have been killed by terrorism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in just two years.
According to the report, 7,000 victims were from Benue State, 2,600 from Plateau State, and 691 from Sokoto, Zamfara, and other Northern states.
Some Northern Islamic leaders, including Sheik Bin Al-Qasim Asaduls and others, described the report as one-sided. In a Facebook video, Sheik Al-Qasim said, “Amnesty claims to defend human rights, but many of us believe it is driven by a Western agenda. They remain silent when Muslims are killed but rush to release statements whenever Muslims react to provocation or defend their Prophet.”
He also added, “Amnesty International, under the guise of justice, is inciting conflict and trying to destabilise the North. Their actual goal is not to protect the oppressed but to create division.”
In response, Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, defended the report and dismissed the accusations as a smear campaign.
He said, “At Amnesty International Nigeria, we remain focused and dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights. Paying influencers and Islamic clerics to carry out ignorant smear campaign won’t detract us from doing the important work we are doing of ensuring that human rights of all Nigerians are protected.
“Our research is always evidence-based and committed to human rights accountability. These diversionary tactics are a shameless attempt to avoid investigating the accounts of human rights violations which have been presented by Amnesty International on 29 May.”
Another critic, Nastaru Sharif, told DCL Hausa she doubted the figures, calling them politically motivated and exaggerated.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
