The international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called for an urgent, independent investigation into the alleged deaths of at least 150 Fulani detainees, mostly children, said to have occurred at a military-supervised facility in Kwara State.
The group raised the alarm in a statement on Thursday, alleging that about 1,500 Fulani pastoralists displaced by violent attacks were held for months at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, under what it described as “deplorable and life-threatening conditions.”
Amnesty International said its findings showed that detainees were subjected to severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, food shortages and inadequate medical care, which allegedly led to widespread malnutrition, disease outbreaks and multiple deaths.
“The Nigerian authorities must conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into the reported deaths of at least 150 members of the Fulani community,” the organisation said.
According to the group’s Executive Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, the situation reflects a dual vulnerability faced by the affected communities.
“Members of the Fulani community face persecution on two fronts—from armed groups and the military. Instead of receiving protection, they are being denied their rights to personal liberty, livelihood, movement, education and healthcare,” he said.
Amnesty International further alleged that some of the detainees, including children and pregnant women, showed visible signs of severe starvation and neglect during visits by its researchers between April 5 and 11.
Researchers reportedly observed children who were “too weak to walk,” with signs of extreme malnutrition, including visible ribs and protruding bones.
The organisation also expressed concern over the condition of at least 100 pregnant women allegedly held at the facility without access to adequate maternal healthcare, warning of possible life-threatening complications.
A female detainee, whose testimony was cited in the report, described a worsening humanitarian crisis inside the camp.
“After we fled our villages because of attacks by gunmen, we were called by the government to move to a safe place. From Offa, the Nigerian Army conveyed us to Yikpata NYSC camp, where our suffering began,” she said.
She alleged that food shortages were severe, adding that starvation claimed the lives of several children and pregnant women.
“My twin daughters, Hauwa’u and Hajja, died there. At some point, we contributed ₦60,000 to buy white shrouds because deaths were increasing. We buried three corpses in a single grave,” she added.
Another survivor, a 43-year-old man who said he escaped from the camp, alleged that over 150 people had died since their detention.
“I escaped because of the difficult living conditions. A total of 154 people have died from hunger and disease since we were brought there. On the day I escaped, six children died,” he said.
Amnesty International also raised alarm over what it described as ethnic profiling and arbitrary detention of Fulani pastoralists, insisting that holding individuals based on identity violates both Nigerian and international law.
“Detaining people based on their identity constitutes discriminatory profiling and exposes them to violence and other human rights violations,” Sanusi stated.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to immediately end the alleged arbitrary detention of Fulani pastoralists in Kwara State and ensure accountability for all reported deaths.
It further called for justice for victims and their families, insisting that authorities must identify and prosecute those responsible while providing effective remedies for survivors.
As of press time, there had been no official response from the Nigerian military or relevant government agencies regarding the allegations.
