The Northwest Democracy Monitoring Group (NDMG) has dismissed Amnesty International’s latest report on insecurity in Nigeria, describing its contents as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group’s chairman, Abubakar Sani, said the data presented by Amnesty was “inflated, unsubstantiated, and ultimately inflammatory.” He warned that the figures, if left unchallenged, could contribute to division and unrest across the country.
“We categorically challenge the numbers cited in this report, deeming them grossly inflated, misleading, and ultimately inflammatory,” Sani stated. “It is imperative that we clarify our position and call upon Amnesty International to reconsider its approach to Nigeria and our ongoing efforts to strengthen democracy.”
Amnesty International had released a report highlighting the growing insecurity in parts of Nigeria, attributing hundreds of killings and displacements to violent attacks in the last year.
But the NDMG said its own fieldwork contradicted Amnesty’s findings. According to the group, its teams had been collecting data across several communities in the Northwest, and the situation on the ground did not reflect the statistics cited in the international watchdog’s report.
“Our findings starkly contrast with the inflated figures presented by Amnesty, which appear to be designed not to inform but to incite unrest and division within our society,” Sani said.
He also stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges must be understood within their broader political and social context. “Oversimplifying these issues through exaggerated statistics does a disservice to the people of Nigeria, who are striving for peace and stability,” he added.
The NDMG urged Amnesty International to strengthen its research methods by engaging local organisations and stakeholders in order to capture a more accurate picture of events in Nigeria. “Rather than relying on sensationalised data that fosters distrust and fear, Amnesty should work with those on the ground who are directly monitoring developments,” the group said.
Amnesty International has not yet responded to NDMG’s criticism.
