Gunmen suspected to be affiliated with Nigeria’s militant Boko Haram unleashed a devastating rampage in the remote village of Kuchi in central Niger state. At least 10 individuals were killed, and approximately 160 were abducted, mostly women and children. Local hunters providing security bore the brunt of the casualties.
Reports indicate that the assailants, arriving on motorbikes, brazenly looted homes and even took time to cook and brew tea before departing the village after two hours. The traumatized community anxiously awaits news of the abducted.
Amid widespread condemnation, Amnesty International expressed profound concern over the mass abduction, denouncing Nigerian authorities’ failure to protect civilians. The organization called for swift action to bring perpetrators to justice and end the recurring cycle of violence and abduction, highlighting the authorities’ inability to safeguard citizens.
The Nigerian branch of Amnesty International revealed a distressing pattern of attacks on Kuchi village, including instances of rape and extortion for ransom. Tragic incidents like these underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures in the region, where armed gangs have increasingly targeted villages, perpetuating a cycle of violence and suffering.