Rights Group Accuses Nigerian Government of Failing to Investigate Deadly Crackdown on Pro-Biafra Protesters

Amnesty International has criticized the Nigerian government for not conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the deaths of pro-Biafra activists, whom the rights group says were killed by security forces during protests in the country’s southeast.

According to the organisation’s analysis of videos, photographs and eyewitness accounts, at least 150 people advocating for an independent Biafran state were killed over a period of several years when security forces used live ammunition and excessive force at demonstrations. The report also alleges extrajudicial executions and reports of injuries among hundreds more.

Amnesty International said the failure of federal authorities to hold security agencies accountable has allowed these alleged abuses to continue without consequences. The group urged the government to launch an impartial inquiry and ensure justice for victims and their families.

The rights watchdog’s allegations have long been rejected by Nigerian security officials in the past, who have repeatedly denied responsibility for widespread civilian deaths and insisted that force was used only to maintain order during unrest.

Amnesty International’s call for accountability highlights broader concerns about human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria, where clashes between security forces and pro-independence groups have sometimes turned violent.