Amnesty International (AI), Nigeria, has expressed worry over the documented killing of 1,844 persons between January 2021 and June 2023, in the South-East, Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday while presenting a report titled, “Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria,” and the launch of campaign against insecurity in the zone, which took place in Enugu, the Director of AI, Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, who was represented by an official, lamented the rate at which human lives were wasted by a group of faceless persons, popularly referred to as “unknown gunmen,” urging governments in the zone and relevant authorities to act swiftly to tackle the problem.

At the event which took place yesterday, featured panellists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and other stakeholders, the group’s official lamented unlawful killings, forced abductions of humans, disappearances which left families with unanswered questions, among other inhuman acts perpetrated by hoodlums in the zone.

Particularly, the gruesome murder of monarchs, police officers, elderly and youths, attacks on police stations and some public institutions, occupied the discussions at the event.

He lamented: “Let us join hands together to ensure justice for the victims.”

We are calling on the Nigerian government to protect the lives of its citizens to ensure peace in the land. The report is a wake-up call for justice, peace and prosperity in the Southeast. Southeast deserves them.”

A brother of a murdered retired senior police officer recounted how his brother was murdered in cold blood by the bandits.

The murder of the monarch of Obudi Agwa autonomous community of Imo State, Eze Ignatius Asor, in his palace, was also recounted.

Three stakeholders at the event, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Ikechukwu Nwanguma of RULAAC, an academic professor of International Relations, Felix Asoqua, among others, called on the stakeholders to demand transparency and accountability in governance. They wondered why insecurity persisted, attributing it to bad governance and alleged neglect by politicians. Perceived culture of silence should not be allowed to thrive in insecurity in the zone, they opined.

The 124-page report had 100 interviews, including comments of the survivors, victims’ relatives, CSOs, lawyers, traditional and religious leaders, in which research took the group to Owerri, Asaba, Delta State; Obosi, Anambra State; Enugu, between April 2023 and November 2023.