Global rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has called on the Nigerian government to launch an urgent investigation into the reported deaths of at least 150 members of the Fulani community at a military-controlled facility in Kwara State.
In a statement released on April 30, 2026, the organization revealed that the victims—many of whom were children—were part of a group of approximately 1,500 pastoralists held for months at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata.
The group alleges that these individuals, who had originally fled attacks by armed groups in local government areas like Asa and Patigi, were intercepted by security forces and subjected to prolonged, arbitrary detention instead of receiving the protection they sought.
The human rights organization painted a harrowing picture of the conditions inside the Yikpata camp, describing the facility as overcrowded, unsanitary, and severely lacking in basic necessities.
According to Amnesty’s findings, detainees have been denied adequate food and healthcare, leading to widespread malnutrition and the rapid spread of disease.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, emphasized that the detainees are facing a double threat from both non-state armed actors and state authorities. “Instead of receiving protection, they are being denied their rights to liberty, movement, education, and healthcare,” Sanusi stated, noting that many families have reported losing loved ones while in custody.
Evidence for these allegations was gathered during field visits conducted in early April 2026, where researchers interviewed survivors and bereaved family members. One mother recounted the tragic loss of her two children to starvation, while other survivors estimated that hunger and illness have claimed over 150 lives since the detentions began.
Furthermore, the report highlights disturbing claims of discriminatory profiling, alleging that individuals were targeted based on their ethnic identity, subjected to unlawful searches, and in some cases, forced to pay bribes to security personnel.
In light of these findings, Amnesty International is demanding a “prompt, thorough, independent, and transparent” investigation to ensure accountability for the fatalities.
The organization warned that holding individuals based on ethnic identity is a clear violation of both Nigerian law and international human rights obligations, calling for an immediate end to the arbitrary detention of the displaced pastoralists.
As of press time, the Nigerian military and relevant federal authorities have yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
