The organisation also lamented that human rights violations have continued to be on the rise across the country, including the use of excessive force by security forces, the use of brutal torture by the police during interrogations, and forced evictions.
Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has raised an alarm, saying that the whereabouts of many Nigerians who became victims of forced disappearance in the Southeast region of the country between 2021 and 2022 still remain unknown to date.
The organisation also lamented that human rights violations have continued to be on the rise across the country, including the use of excessive force by security forces, the use of brutal torture by the police during interrogations, and forced evictions.
Amnesty recalled that a 22-year-old “Maduabuchi Obinwa, disappeared after his abduction on April 24, 2022, when security agents from the Awkuzu State Criminal Investigation Department raided his house in Ekwulobia, Anambra state”.
It also recalled that “Obiora Agbasimalo, a governorship candidate, was abducted by gunmen on September 18, 2021, while going to an election campaign outing in Azia town, Anambra state.
“Sunday Ifedi and Calista Ifedi, a couple, were taken by security operatives from their home in Enugu on 23 November 2021, because of their alleged membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
“The fates and whereabouts of all these people remained unknown at the end of the year.”
The organisation said, “There were sanctions against the media and criminal charges against journalists for alleged defamation.
“Defence and security forces used excessive force, mainly to disperse protests. People were tortured during police interrogation. Authorities continued to carry out forced evictions.
“Authorities failed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.
“All parties to the armed conflict committed violations of international law. Cases of enforced disappearances were documented.
“Sexual and gender-based violence remained rife. Men were charged under the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. Resettled internally displaced people lacked sufficient food and access to basic amenities.”