By Faith Chondol
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to conduct a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the lingering communal violence between the Tsobo and Bachama communities in Lamurde Local Government Area and end the prolonged detention without trial of 19 Tsobo men.
The rights organisation said its investigation found that the response of the Nigerian military and other security agencies since the violence escalated in July 2025 had been characterised by arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention and violations of due process rather than effective law enforcement.
According to Amnesty International, many of the detainees were arrested during nighttime military operations at their homes or intercepted along rural roads before being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Yola.
It said the men had remained in detention without trial and had been denied access to their families and lawyers, while no publicly available information had been provided on the status of legal proceedings against them.
The organisation added that relatives of the detainees told its investigators they had received little or no official information regarding the men’s whereabouts, legal status or the progress of any investigations.
Amnesty International noted that Section 35 of Nigeria’s Constitution requires anyone arrested or detained to be brought before a court within the constitutionally prescribed period.
It also said Nigeria is bound by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which prohibit arbitrary detention and require that detainees be informed promptly of the reasons for their arrest, granted access to legal counsel and brought before an independent judicial authority without undue delay.
The organisation said the continued detention of the 19 men for several months without trial raised serious concerns over violations of their rights to liberty, due process and a fair hearing, warning that such practices could undermine public confidence in the justice system and deepen tensions in communities already affected by violence.
Amnesty International identified the detainees as Nathan Filangh, Jessel Irmiya, Clark Musa, Jackson Williams, Blue Mislay, Godulin Algaji, Jasper Solomon, Yohanna Mace, Silas Bitrus, Hamson Samuel, Etayi Ephraim, Jethro Jonah, Abba Danladi, Doratizi Francis, Saviour Samuel, Markus Moses, Daniel Gideon, Samson and one unidentified individual.
The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to ensure that all crimes committed during the communal violence are investigated independently and impartially, regardless of the identity or community affiliation of those responsible.
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