Amnesty International has condemned the brutal killing of a family of twelve, who were burnt alive by bandits in Gidan Taba village, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in the early hours of Sunday.
Residents say the gunmen first invaded the community in Dosara Birnin Kaya Ward, killing the family members and abducting several other villagers. The attack, which followed a pattern of threats and demands, added to a long list of violent incidents that have plagued the region.
In a statement, Amnesty said the incident once again exposed the “utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to end over a decade of bloody security crisis in Zamfara.” It added that previous military interventions have failed to stop the killings, especially in rural communities, leaving villagers helpless and constantly living in fear of the next attack.
“After every attack villagers bury their dead and brace up for the next attack,” the organisation said.
Amnesty lamented that the crisis in Zamfara is making life “hell for villagers” and appears to be low on the list of government priorities. The organisation called for an immediate end to the killings and demanded that those suspected of criminal responsibility be brought to justice in fair trials. “The Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to protect the lives of everybody in the country, including people in poor and rural communities,” it added.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
