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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA CHAIRMAN, ASKS TINUBU TO TACKLE RISING KILLINGS
The Amnesty International Nigeria board chairman and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has berated the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government for allegedly spending public funds on social media influencers and rented crowds to downplay the rising insecurity and mass killings across the country. Nigerian cultural tours
Rafsanjani noted that instead of this, the government must take an urgent action to protect citizens and address the root causes of violence.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, Rafsanjani decried the escalating wave of violence, killings, and insecurity in Nigeria, calling on the government to take immediate and responsible action to safeguard the lives of its citizens.Nigerian cultural tours
He described the daily reports of killings, rape, and attacks by criminals, bandits, and other violent groups as “deeply tragic” and a direct threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
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“It is very sad that one of the major things Nigerians wake up to every day is news of killings, rapes, and attacks. This is not good for our democracy or for poor and defenceless Nigerians who have no means of protection,” Rafsanjani said.
He expressed concerns over what he termed the state’s consistent failure to fulfill its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property, accusing government authorities of negligence and promoting impunity.
Rafsanjani strongly criticised the alleged use of public funds by government agencies to hire social media influencers and rented crowds to dismiss credible reports of insecurity, rather than confronting the situation head-on.Nigerian cultural tours
“It’s unfortunate that instead of working to stop the killings, the government spends taxpayers’ money hiring social media influencers and TikTokers to dismiss genuine reports. This is not only irresponsible, it is also an attempt to incite the public against civil society organisations like Amnesty International,” he said.
Rafsanjani, who is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amnesty International Nigeria, emphasised that both local and international civil society organisations have long warned of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation. Nigerian cultural tours
According to him, the recent deployment of military forces to Benue State only vindicates reports often labeled as exaggerated by government officials.
“From the North to the South, and from the East to the West, killings are happening rapidly. Benue, Zamfara, and other states are recording losses daily. Rather than tackling these issues, the government is more concerned with attacking the messengers,” he lamented.
He called for genuine dialogue, proactive community engagement, and the institutionalisation of early warning and early response mechanisms to curb violence before it erupts.
“What we need is community policing, intelligence sharing, and a national framework that brings together religious, traditional, and community leaders to discuss and resolve root causes of violence such as farmer-herder conflicts, political unrest, and banditry,” he advised.
Rafsanjani concluded by urging the Federal Government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes — regardless of their affiliations — and ensure that victims are properly compensated.
“These killings are not accidents — they are consequences of failure to act. The government must take responsibility, identify the criminals, and provide justice and compensation to victims. Only then can we move toward a fair and secure Nigeria,” he said. Nigerian cultural tours
