Group Blasts Amnesty Int’l Report As “Dangerous Fabrication” Aimed At Dividing Northern Nigeria

The Taraba Renaissance Group (TRG) has issued a scathing rebuttal to the latest report by Amnesty International, accusing the global rights watchdog of fabricating a narrative aimed at inciting religious conflict and destabilising Northern Nigeria.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Abuja, TRG Chairperson Bridget Grace Adamu described the report— which allegedly highlights escalating conflict between Muslims and Christians in states like Taraba, Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau— as “a misleading and dangerous fabrication.” The group claims that the findings in the report are exaggerated, one-sided, and appear to serve a predetermined agenda.

“The Taraba Renaissance Group categorically rejects the latest report released by Amnesty International, which seeks to portray a false narrative of conflict between Northern Nigerian Muslims and Christians,” Adamu said. “This report is not only misleading but also represents a shameful fabrication of facts aimed at exacerbating tensions among already fragile communities.”

The TRG accused Amnesty of a “history of biased reporting”, alleging that its latest publication misrepresents the situation on the ground by inflaming religious and ethnic tensions that threaten the peace in an already sensitive region.

“The insinuation that Muslims and Christians in Northern Nigeria are at each other’s throats is not only inaccurate but plays directly into the hands of those who wish to see the region destabilized,” the statement added.

The group also alleged that the report plays into what it called a “long-standing international destabilization agenda”, actively supported by “local collaborators and disgruntled politicians” seeking to exploit division for personal and political gain.

“By inflaming ethnic and religious tensions, Amnesty International aims to diminish the viability of the North, rendering it incapable of standing on its own two feet and competing favorably with other parts of the country,” Adamu said.

Calling for national unity, the TRG urged citizens of Northern Nigeria to reject divisive narratives and instead focus on peacebuilding, understanding, and intercommunal cooperation.
The group also called on the Nigerian government to respond firmly to what it described as “misleading information that threatens national cohesion.”

“The Taraba Renaissance Group is committed to promoting peace, unity, and development in our region. We will not be swayed by external forces that aim to destabilize our communities,” the statement concluded.

The disputed report, titled “Mounting Death Toll and Looming Humanitarian Crisis Amid Unchecked Attacks by Armed Groups”, reportedly documents over 10,000 deaths and mass displacements in Northern Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023.