Stop Killings, Not Critics — Amnesty Chairman Rafsanjani Tells Tinubu

Stop Killings, Not Critics — Amnesty Chairman Rafsanjani Tells Tinubu

Chairman of Amnesty International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize ending widespread killings and insecurity rather than spending public funds on social media influencers to downplay the crisis.

Rafsanjani, who also heads the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), criticized the government for allegedly hiring influencers and rented crowds to discredit credible reports of violence and insecurity across the country.

In an interview, he described the rising violence, including killings, rape, and bandit attacks, as a tragedy and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. He condemned the government’s failure to protect citizens, calling it gross negligence and a violation of constitutional duty.

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“It’s unfortunate that instead of stopping the killings, the government spends taxpayers’ money hiring TikTokers to dismiss genuine concerns. That’s not just irresponsible — it’s dangerous,” he said.

Rafsanjani stressed the need for proactive community engagement, dialogue, and early warning systems to prevent violence. He also called for the establishment of a national framework involving community and religious leaders to resolve root causes like farmer-herder clashes and political unrest.

He urged the government to stop attacking civil society, identify and prosecute perpetrators of violence, and ensure justice and compensation for victims.

“These killings are not random — they reflect a failure to act. The government must take responsibility,” he concluded.