Pawel Gaul/iStock/Thinkstock(BAGA, Nigeria) — Amnesty International claims that Nigerian authorities were warned of impending attacks by militant group Boko Haram and failed to take action to protect civilians.
Amnesty’s Africa Director Netsanet Belay said in a statement on Wednesday that “Nigeria’s military leadership woefully and repeatedly failed in their duty to protect civilians of Baga and Monguno despite repeated warnings about an impending threat posed by Boko Haram.” He further called the attacks “an urgent wake-up call for the Nigerian leadership, the African Union and the international community.”
According to Amnesty, Nigerian authorities “have a responsibility to take all feasible measures to protect the civilian population, including by assisting with an evacuation of those who wished to flee and transporting them to safer areas.” The organization also claims the authorities “have a responsibility to inform civilians of risks and dangers.”
Earlier this month, Boko Haram captured the town of Monguno and attack Maiduguri and Konduga, Amnesty says.
Amnesty has previously released satellite images showing thousands of structures damaged or destroyed in Baga following a Boko Haram attack.
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