Mob violence claimed 555 lives since 2012 — Amnesty Int’l
Mob violence claimed 555 lives since 2012 — Amnesty Int’l
Amnesty International has revealed that no fewer than 555 Nigerians were killed in mob violence across the country between 2012 and 2024.
The disclosure came from Barbara Magaji, Programme Manager for Amnesty International, after a campaign walk against mob violence in Calabar on Friday.
Magaji said victims are often framed or unjustly attacked following false alarms raised in public spaces.
She added that Amnesty’s study shows an average of 55 deaths occur yearly due to mob violence.
“We spent two years documenting mob violence incidents nationwide over an 11-year period, from 2012 to 2024,” she explained.
According to Magaji, many victims were accused of witchcraft or theft based solely on public allegations.
“People are killed over claims of witchcraft or because someone shouted ‘thief’ in a public place,” she said.
Amnesty found that some victims were wrongly stoned or burned to death by angry mobs.
“All we ask is that the public should not take laws into their hands,” she urged.
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Magaji advised that such cases be reported to the police or relevant authorities for proper investigation.
She encouraged Nigerians to avoid reporting suspects to mobs and instead trust the justice system.
“The police are the appropriate actors in justice matters,” she emphasised.
She explained the survey covered all six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
“We focused on all geo-political zones and documented incidents across various states,” she said.
In Cross River, she noted, witchcraft allegations were the most common trigger for mob violence.
Magaji regretted that people are often killed without proof, violating their right to life.
She urged the public to involve the police and allow the judiciary to determine guilt or innocence.
