Mob violence has spread with impunity in Nigeria in the last decade. This upsurge in mob violence, including violence against women and children, has led to nationwide condemnation and calls for justice from surviving victims, their families and human rights advocates. This alarming increase prompted Amnesty International to investigate and document the human rights violations arising from such cases. The nature and pattern of mob violence differs between the south and the north of Nigeria. In this briefing, Amnesty International presents a sample of ten cases out of those documented across the country. View Report in English Download PDF Armed Groups Impunity Justice Systems Nigeria Report Research Torture and other ill-treatment Research Recently added Mozambique: Authorities must end post-election assault on protests now Pakistan: Flood survivors in Sindh province suffer disease and food insecurity amid government inaction – new testimony Brazil: The jury trial in the case of Marielle and Anderson may be a response from the State to violence against human rights defenders. Sudan: Urgent need for civilian protection in wake of escalating violence Japan: Momentum for marriage equality grows with Tokyo High Court ruling Write a letter, change a life Every year, our global community comes together to fight injustice and support people whose human rights are under threat. Join the Write for Rights campaign and demand justice by calling on decision makers to do the right thing.
- Index Number
- AFR 44/8425/2024
- Pages
- 43
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- 1. ABBREVIATIONS 4
- 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
- 3. METHODOLOGY 7
- Locations of casesvictims in Nigeria investigated by Amnesty International 8
- 4. BACKGROUND 9
- 4.1. THE CONCEPT OF MOB VIOLENCE 9
- 4.1. MOB VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA 9
- 5. LEGAL CONTEXT 11
- 5.1. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK 11
- 5.2 NIGERIAN LEGAL FRAMEWORK 11
- 6. MOB VIOLENCE CASE STUDIES IN 13
- NIGERIA 13
- 6.1 SUMMARY OF CASES INVESTIGATED BY AMNESTY 13
- INTERNATIONAL 13
- 7. MOB VIOLENCE TRENDS AND 23
- PATTERNS IN NIGERIA 23
- 7.1 THE NATURE OF MOB VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA 23
- 7.2 THE MOTIVES BEHIND THE USE OF MOB VIOLENCE 24
- 7.3 THE SOCIAL LICENSE TO KILL FOR BLASPHEMY IN NIGERIA 24
- It appears that most religious leaders have constituted themselves into authorities who issue death sentences at the slightest alleged provocation of blasphemy. They are the police they are the jury. 25
- 7.4 NIGERIAS SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES FUEL MOB VIOLENCE 25
- 7.5 MOB VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WITH PSYCHO-SOCIAL DISABILITIES 26
- 7.6 THE FAILINGS OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR 26
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are often ignored by the Nigerian police in handling mob justice cases thereby negating their obligations to ensure the protection of victims. 28
- 7.7 DELAY OR DENIAL OF JUSTICE AS A CAUSE AND 28
- CONSEQUENCE OF MOB VIOLENCE 28
- 7.8 THE RISE OF VIGILANTE GROUPS AND THEIR ROLE IN MOB VIOLENCE 29
- 7.9 THE FAILURE OF THE NIGERIAN STATE TO CURB MOB VIOLENCE 30
- Nigeria has less than 400000 police officers and 30
- 8. THE CONSEQUENCES OF MOB 32
- VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA 32
- 8.1 GRIEF AND TRAUMA FOR THE SURVIVORS AND RELATIVES OF MOB VIOLENCE VICTIMS 32
- 9. QUANTITATIVE DATA ON MOB 34
- VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA 34
- 9.1 2012-2023 INCIDENTS OF MOB VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA 34
- 9.2 VICTIM INDICES OF MOB VIOLENCE ACROSS NIGERIAS GEOPOLITICAL ZONES 34
- 9.3 TYPES OF INJURIES INFLICTED BY MOB VIOLENCE 35
- 10. CONCLUSIONS 36
- 11. RECOMMENDATIONS 38
- 11.1 TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA 38
- 11.2 TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 38
- 11.3 TO THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE 39
- 11.4 TO THE PUBLIC 39
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. WHEN INJUSTICE HAPPENS TO ONE PERSON IT MATTERS TO US ALL. 41
