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| Nigerian military calls for Amnesty International ban | Nigerian military calls for Amnesty International ban |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Nigeria's army has called for the closure of Amnesty International's operations in the country. | Nigeria's army has called for the closure of Amnesty International's operations in the country. |
| In a report on Monday, the human rights group said at least 3,641 people had died in clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria since 2016. | In a report on Monday, the human rights group said at least 3,641 people had died in clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria since 2016. |
| The army has accused Amnesty of trying to destabilise the country with "fictitious" claims. | The army has accused Amnesty of trying to destabilise the country with "fictitious" claims. |
| A spokesperson for Amnesty told the BBC that the group "would not be discouraged" by the military's remarks. | A spokesperson for Amnesty told the BBC that the group "would not be discouraged" by the military's remarks. |
| The exchange of words comes days after Nigeria's military briefly suspended the activities of the UN children's agency Unicef in the north-east of the country. | The exchange of words comes days after Nigeria's military briefly suspended the activities of the UN children's agency Unicef in the north-east of the country. |
| Aside from those killed, thousands of people have been displaced since 2016 as a result of the long-running conflict between cattle herders and farmers in central Nigeria, according to Amnesty. | Aside from those killed, thousands of people have been displaced since 2016 as a result of the long-running conflict between cattle herders and farmers in central Nigeria, according to Amnesty. |
| The NGO said more than half of these deaths had occurred in 2018 alone. | The NGO said more than half of these deaths had occurred in 2018 alone. |
| "These attacks were well planned and co-ordinated, with the use of weapons like machine guns and AK-47 rifles," said Osai Ojigho, Amnesty's Nigeria director. | "These attacks were well planned and co-ordinated, with the use of weapons like machine guns and AK-47 rifles," said Osai Ojigho, Amnesty's Nigeria director. |
| "Yet, little has been done by the authorities in terms of prevention, arrests and prosecutions, even when information about the suspected perpetrators was available," she added. | "Yet, little has been done by the authorities in terms of prevention, arrests and prosecutions, even when information about the suspected perpetrators was available," she added. |
| "The Nigerian government has displayed what can only be described as gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population." | "The Nigerian government has displayed what can only be described as gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population." |
| On Facebook, army spokesperson General Sani Kukasheka Usman hit back at Amnesty, accusing it of spreading "fictitious allegations" to "destabilise and dismember Nigeria". | On Facebook, army spokesperson General Sani Kukasheka Usman hit back at Amnesty, accusing it of spreading "fictitious allegations" to "destabilise and dismember Nigeria". |
| General Usman also called for the closure of Amnesty operations in the Nigeria "if such recklessness continues". | General Usman also called for the closure of Amnesty operations in the Nigeria "if such recklessness continues". |
| In response, Isa Sanusi, a spokesperson for Amnesty in Nigeria, told the BBC: "They should do their job of protecting Nigerians rather than threatening human rights organisations. | |
| "We will not be discouraged," added Mr Sanusi. "Where we see a violation we will not keep quiet." | |
| Central areas of Nigeria have witnessed decades of violence between farmers and cattle herders. | Central areas of Nigeria have witnessed decades of violence between farmers and cattle herders. |
| The International Crisis Group says that in the first half of 2018, six times more people were killed during clashes than in the war with the Boko Haram Islamist group. | The International Crisis Group says that in the first half of 2018, six times more people were killed during clashes than in the war with the Boko Haram Islamist group. |
| The mostly Muslim Fulani - believed to be the world's largest semi-nomadic group - herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with farming communities. | The mostly Muslim Fulani - believed to be the world's largest semi-nomadic group - herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with farming communities. |
| Since many farmers in the areas affected are Christian, the conflict has often been viewed as an ethno-religious struggle. | Since many farmers in the areas affected are Christian, the conflict has often been viewed as an ethno-religious struggle. |
| Amnesty says the conflict is largely about access to land and resources but has become heavily politicised. | Amnesty says the conflict is largely about access to land and resources but has become heavily politicised. |
| Fake pictures circulating on social media of alleged violence are also believed to be raising tensions. | Fake pictures circulating on social media of alleged violence are also believed to be raising tensions. |
| Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari - the son of a Fulani chief - has previously been criticised for his handling of the issue. | Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari - the son of a Fulani chief - has previously been criticised for his handling of the issue. |