A public affairs analyst, Mr. Tersoo Chiahemen, has strongly criticized Amnesty International's recent report on Nigeria's security situation, describing it as "exaggerated" and potentially dangerous for national stability.

In a statement released on Saturday, Chiahemen challenged the international organization's claim that over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed by bandits during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's two-year tenure. The report had specifically attributed 6,896 deaths to Benue State and 2,630 to Plateau State, representing over 98% of the total fatalities nationwide.

"The horrific picture painted in alluding to 6,896 people killed in Benue and 2,630 in Plateau is beyond reason. This is not just improbable, it is inflammatory and potentially dangerous," Chiahemen stated.

Conflicting Data Sources

Chiahemen contrasted Amnesty's figures with data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which he described as "a globally respected and methodologically sound organization." According to him, ACLED's report for the same period recorded 2,132 fatalities in Benue and Plateau combined—significantly lower than Amnesty's claims.

"ACLED's figures indicated a downward trend as against Amnesty International's increase in the killings by bandits," he noted.

The analyst further criticized Amnesty International for what he termed a decline in professionalism, stating that the organization "has suddenly turned itself into a tool for sensationalism and irritable soft-power coercion."

Defense of Government Efforts

Chiahemen also rejected Amnesty's assertion that the Nigerian government has done little beyond issuing media statements to address security challenges. He defended the Tinubu administration's efforts, citing "strategic military operations, investments in community-led security architecture, and prioritization of disarmament and peacebuilding in volatile regions."

"Yes, challenges persist especially in rural and border areas, but the blanket assertion of state inaction is both inaccurate, myopic, and most unfair," he added.

The public affairs analyst called on Amnesty International to engage with credible data institutions like ACLED and Nigerian civil society actors to conduct more accurate assessments of the security situation in the country.

"Until then, we are left with a troubling truth: Amnesty's report is not a wake-up call. It is a work of fiction. And one that does more harm than good," Chiahemen concluded.

Amnesty International has yet to respond to these criticisms of its report on Nigeria's security situation.