Amnesty International Alleges 150 Deaths at Nigerian Military Detention Camp
Amnesty International has called for an immediate investigation into what it describes as the deaths of at least 150 displaced persons, most of them children, at a military-controlled detention facility in Kwara State, Nigeria. The human rights organisation says conditions at the camp amount to violations of domestic and international law.
The allegations centre on the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata, where approximately 1,500 Fulani men, women and children were held for months after fleeing attacks by armed groups in Asa, Edu, Ifelodun and Patigi local government areas. The camp became a de facto detention centre rather than a shelter, according to testimony collected by Amnesty researchers.
Speaking about conditions at the facility, survivors described severe overcrowding, insufficient food supplies and limited access to healthcare. A woman who spent time at the camp told Amnesty that meals were infrequent and inadequate, sometimes consisting only of beans in the evening. She said several children and pregnant women died during her time there, including her own twin daughters.
A 43-year-old man who escaped from the camp put the death toll at a minimum of 154, with children and pregnant women among the most vulnerable. He described how detainees had to pool resources to purchase shrouds for burials due to the rising number of deaths, sometimes burying three corpses in a single grave.
A Crisis Within a Crisis
The situation in Kwara State has deteriorated since January 2026, when military operations were launched against armed groups operating in rural areas. While the operations targeted bandits and insurgent elements, they also triggered large-scale displacement, particularly in forested regions where armed groups have historically used rural communities as cover.
Some of those who ended up at the Yikpata camp had initially been told to leave their villages to allow military clearance operations, only to find themselves confined without formal charges or judicial oversight. The Amnesty report describes this as a form of discriminatory profiling based on ethnic identity, which the organisation argues violates both the Nigerian constitution and international human rights standards.
The widespread malnutrition and disease inside the camp, Amnesty said, reflected a systematic failure to provide for the most basic needs of those in its care. At least 100 pregnant women were reported to be at risk due to lack of maternal healthcare, adding to fears of preventable maternal deaths.
Images and testimonies gathered by Amnesty researchers documented visible signs of severe malnutrition among children, including protruding ribs and extreme weakness. Medical professionals consulted by the organisation said the conditions were consistent with acute nutritional deficiencies exacerbated by limited sanitation and disease exposure.
Government Response and Accountability Demands
As of the time of reporting, Nigerian military authorities had not publicly responded to the Amnesty International allegations. The army spokesperson had not replied to enquiries sent by the organisation and by independent media.
Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi said the circumstances of those held at the camp represent a double persecution. 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.
The organisation has called on the Nigerian authorities to conduct a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the reported deaths and to hold accountable those suspected of responsibility. It has also urged the government to release those still held without trial and to ensure that displaced persons receive adequate humanitarian protection and support.
Human rights observers say the case highlights broader concerns about the use of detention as a security tool in Nigeria ongoing counter-insurgency operations. The challenge of addressing armed group violence while maintaining respect for basic rights remains a deeply contested issue across multiple states in the country, where civilians are frequently caught between militant threats and security force responses that have themselves been documented to include rights violations.
