THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Indian Workers Association urges global action over civilian violence in Nigeria
UK-based organisation calls on the UK Government and the United Nations to strengthen protection for civilians amid ongoing humanitarian crisis
The Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) has called on the UK Government and the United Nations to give greater attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed during more than a decade of violence.
Although the organisation has no direct connection with the conflict, it says the situation is a matter of human conscience and global responsibility. The association, known for campaigning for workers’ rights, equality and social justice, said violence against innocent people anywhere in the world should concern the international community.
Nigeria has faced a complex security crisis since 2009, including extremist insurgency, armed banditry and communal conflicts linked to land and resources. Militant groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out attacks on villages, schools and places of worship.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 50,000 civilians have been killed in Nigeria’s violence since 2009, while the wider conflict has displaced over two million people across the country’s northern and central regions.
While some organisations report significant numbers of Christian victims and attacks on churches, researchers and security analysts say Muslim communities have also suffered heavily, with extremist groups frequently targeting villages and mosques whose residents oppose their ideology. Analysts note that the violence is not purely religious, but is also linked to poverty, weak security structures, organised criminal groups and disputes between farming and herding communities.
Call for international attention
Sital Singh Gill, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association (Great Britain), said:
“We are not directly connected to the conflict in Nigeria, but as human beings we cannot remain silent when innocent people are suffering. Violence against civilians—whether they are Christian, Muslim or from any other community—is unacceptable. Humanity must come before division, and the international community must work together to protect human life and dignity.”
The association has urged the UK Government to raise the situation in international forums and called on the United Nations to strengthen monitoring, humanitarian assistance and civilian protection in the region, while encouraging peaceful solutions aimed at preventing further loss of life.
The organisation said the crisis underlines the need for stronger international cooperation to protect civilians, address the root causes of violence and support lasting peace in Nigeria.
