Amnesty International Nigeria has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the killing of five people allegedly attacked by armed political thugs in Kano State.
The human rights organisation condemned the incident, which reportedly occurred on Tuesday, April 5, 2026, describing it as one of the worst outbreaks of political violence recorded in the state in recent years.
In a statement released on its official platforms, Amnesty International said the killings reflected a dangerous escalation of politically motivated violence and warned that continued impunity could further threaten public safety and democratic participation.
According to the organisation, videos obtained from the scene showed armed mobs pursuing fleeing individuals before violently attacking them.
Amnesty International said some of the victims were later seen lying in pools of blood while struggling for survival.
The organisation alleged that the attackers were dressed in T-shirts bearing the insignia of the ruling party and were heard chanting violent slogans during the attack.
“This is the biggest surge in thuggery in recent years,” Amnesty International stated.
“The Nigerian authorities must investigate the incident to ensure that suspected perpetrators and the politicians sponsoring them are brought to justice.”
The rights group expressed concern over what it described as the growing influence of armed political gangs allegedly linked to prominent politicians in Kano.
According to Amnesty International, the activities of such groups have become increasingly violent in recent months, posing serious threats to lives, property and democratic freedoms.
It warned that the recurring violence was undermining citizens’ rights to freely participate in political activities without fear or intimidation.
“This incident reflects a dangerous escalation of the deadly cycle of political violence consistently happening across Kano in recent months,” the statement added.
“The armed thugs reported to be working for some prominent politicians of the ruling party are increasingly posing a threat to the right to life, behaving as if they have carte blanche to kill and destroy.”
Amnesty International urged the Nigerian government, political leaders and political parties to uphold the rule of law and ensure the protection of lives and property before, during and after political activities.
The organisation also stressed the need for accountability, warning that failure to prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors could embolden further violence ahead of future political events.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Government and the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue official statements on the allegations raised by Amnesty International.
