Amnesty International said Wednesday that at least 150 people, including children, have died while detained at a military-controlled facility in Yikpata, Kwara State.
The group said about 1,500 displaced Fulani pastoralists have been held for months at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata. The detainees fled violence in Asa, Edu, Ifelodun and Patigi local government areas, according to the report released April 30.
Amnesty alleged the detention is arbitrary. The group cited overcrowding, poor sanitation, and shortages of food and medical care. It said malnutrition and preventable disease have increased, and pregnant women lack maternal healthcare.
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Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the detainees are caught between attacks by armed groups and actions by state authorities. Researchers visiting in early April recorded accounts from families, including a mother who said two of her children died from starvation, the report said.
Amnesty also alleged discriminatory profiling, unlawful searches and extortion by security personnel.
The Nigerian government and military had not issued a response as of Thursday. Amnesty called for an immediate, independent and transparent investigation. The group said detaining people based on ethnicity violates Nigerian law and international human rights treaties.
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