LAGOS: Global rights watchdog Amnesty International said Tuesday the Nigerian government should do more to protect its citizens in the wake of deadly attacks blamed on the Islamist Boko Haram group.
At least 185 people were killed in bomb and gun attacks on Friday in the northern mainly Muslim city of Kano, the second largest in the country. Nine assailants also died in the assaults.
Attacks by Boko Haram killed at least 500 people last year, according to both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch.
The group "has perpetrated numerous human rights abuses and shows contempt for life. They must stop the attacks," Amnesty said in a statement. "However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly failed to prevent, investigate, prosecute or punish these acts.
"These horrific crimes by Boko Haram must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice," it said.
It denounced "serious criminal justice failings" in the handling of the Boko Haram menace and pointed to poorly trained and ill-equipped policemen.
The key suspect in a Christmas Day bombing on a Catholic church in which 44 people were killed escaped from police custody.
President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to step up security, but Amnesty warned that the authorities "must not pursue security at the expense of human rights.
Amnesty has long accused Nigerian security forces of violate suspects' rights and subjecting them to inhuman and degrading treatment.
"Security forces must ensure their response is within legitimate boundaries," it said.