From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has disagreed with Amnesty International’s report claiming over 10,217 people were killed in Plateau and Benue States in the past two years under the Tinubu-led administration.
CNG National Coordinator Jamilu Charanchi made the statement during a press conference held in Abuja.
He accused Amnesty International of being politically motivated in releasing the figures and pointed out that the report failed to include Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States, where serious killings are occurring, but singled out Plateau and Benue States.
Charanchi also said the report is a ploy to destabilise the peace in the North and trigger a religious war between Christians and Muslims; hence, Nigerians should discard the report.
He said, “We gather here today under the banner of the Coalition of Northern Groups to address a grave concern that threatens the fabric of our society and the unity of our diverse communities. It has come to our attention that there are orchestrated plans aimed at sowing discord between Northern Nigerian Muslims and Christians. This alarming development not only undermines our shared values but also poses a significant threat to the peace and stability of our region.
“Recent reports from international human rights organisations, particularly Amnesty International, have raised red flags regarding the escalating violence in our communities.
“They claim that over 10,217 people have been killed in the past two years since the current government assumed power, with a staggering 6,896 fatalities in Benue State alone and 2,630 in Plateau State.
“However, we must express our deep concern regarding the lack of transparency in these figures. Amnesty International has failed to provide credible sources for these statistics, leading us to believe that they may have deliberately inflated the numbers to portray Christians as the primary victims in this ongoing crisis.”