IHRC warns Nigeria at critical insecurity juncture, traces crisis to Zamfara gold displacement

IHRC warns Nigeria faces critical insecurity crisis requiring urgent action, tracing banditry surge to Zamfara gold deposit discovery displacing Fulani pastoralists from ancestral lands, destroying livelihoods and fueling poverty-driven crimes like cattle rustling. Statement signed by Country Director Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu calls for decisive government response.

Crisis has spread from Zamfara to Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kaduna. IHRC reports vigilante groups committing abuses and extrajudicial actions, security personnel misconduct, judicial and traditional authority failings, possible official-criminal collusion in forest areas, and interference leading to suspect releases—all undermining public trust and worsening insecurity nationwide.

IHRC demands addressing root causes through fairness and accountability: urgently reviewing banditry drivers, ensuring security agencies act professionally while respecting human rights, prosecuting anyone supporting insecurity regardless of position, protecting vulnerable communities, and restoring livelihoods. Sustainable peace requires tackling systemic failures, not just symptoms.

Given this national insecurity crisis affecting livelihoods and stability across multiple states, what community-level safety measures should be prioritized while awaiting government action on root causes?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/18/nigeria-at-critical-juncture-over-insecurity-ihrc-warns/