Amnesty seeks probe of killings, rights abuses in South-East

Amnesty International Nigeria has called for urgent investigations into reported human rights violations and unlawful killings across the South-East region of Nigeria. The organization presented two reports during a town hall in Umuahia, Abia State, detailing at least 1,844 deaths between 2021 and mid-2023. The deaths occurred amid alleged brutal crossfire involving non-state armed groups, state-backed outfits, and security operations.

Amnesty also documented alleged indiscriminate raids, enforced disappearances, and unlawful killings, many of which had not been followed by independent investigations or prosecutions. The organization called for accountability, with researchers detailing abuses at the Imo State Police Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alleged to have engaged in arbitrary detention, extortion, physical torture, deaths in custody, and enforced disappearances.

Relatives of those allegedly abducted or arrested by security operatives also shared their experiences, urging authorities to locate their loved ones and ensure justice.