On the night of May 28, 2023, a horrific event unfolded in the remote village of Kuchi, located in Nigeria’s central Niger state. A large group of armed men, a part of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, launched a ruthless attack on the unsuspecting community. This group, officially known as Jama’atu AHlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which translates to “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad,” has been a significant source of terror in Nigeria and the surrounding regions.
Local official Aminu Abdulhamid Najume informed the media that the majority of those kidnapped were women and children, while those killed were mostly local hunters providing security. The assailants reportedly arrived on motorbikes, looted homes, and even took the time to cook food and make tea before departing two hours later. The community of Kuchi has been left traumatised and anxiously awaits news of the abducted individuals.
In response to the incident, Amnesty International expressed its deep concerns on X, formerly known as Twitter. The organisation criticised the Nigerian authorities for their failure to protect lives and called for an end to the spate of abductions and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International took to X, formally known as Twitter to express its “deep concerns at the mass abduction”. “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the abduction of over 160 people by gunmen in Kuchi village, Munya local government area of Niger State. The invasion of the village by the gunmen is yet another indication of the Nigerian authorities’ utter failure to protect lives,” the humanitarian body wrote on X.
The recurring mass abductions and killings, Amnesty International emphasised, are clear evidence of the authorities’ failure to safeguard the people.
“Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to end these spate of abductions and bring suspected perpetrators to justice. Frequent mass abductions and killings are clear evidence of the failure of authorities to protect the people,” the body furthered.
Attacks in Niger state have become increasingly common, though it is often unclear if the gunmen are linked to jihadist groups. Last month, several villages were targeted by armed gangs kidnapping for ransom.
Boko Haram, Nigeria’s militant Islamist group, has wreaked havoc across Africa’s most populous country through bombings, assassinations, and abductions. The group aims to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state. Boko Haram promotes a version of Islam that forbids Muslims from participating in any political or social activity associated with Western society.
Boko Haram regards the Nigerian state as run by non-believers, irrespective of the president’s religion, and has extended its military campaign to neighbouring states. The group’s official name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, meaning “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” in Arabic.
Notably, on May 28, the internet was flooded with posts and reports supporting Hamas and Palestine, featuring a viral AI-generated image reading “All Eyes on Rafah.” Celebrities from around the world, including India, joined the campaign and shared the image, which was reposted over 33 million times, highlighting the influence of these figures. Among those participating were actors and actresses such as Malaika Arora Khan, Zareen Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Kriti Kharbanda, Nora Fatehi, DQ Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Tripti Dimri, Rakul Preet, Rahul Dua, Varun Dhawan, Nitanshi Goel, Urfi Javed, Swara Bhaskar, and Aahsaas Channa, all using their platforms to support the cause.
In response to the surge of support for Rafah, pro-Israel accounts began sharing posts urging those with “eyes on Rafah” to help locate hostages that Hamas has held since October 7, 2023.
A post on X revealed that celebrities are offered various payment tiers for posting content on social media platforms. Those with 1,000 to 100,000 followers receive USD 10, while accounts with over 50 million followers can earn up to USD 20,000.
These celebrities have been criticised for their selective outrage, such as their vocal protest during the Kathua case with the “I am ashamed” placard. Their concern seems to be selective, often manifesting only when the alleged victims are Muslim and not when the victims are Hindu.
The “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign has highlighted the disconnect of celebrities from ground realities and larger issues. Dozens of hostages taken by Hamas after the October 7 massacre remain missing. Recently released videos show brutal acts committed by Hamas terrorists, yet these have not sparked concern among celebrities with millions of followers.
Their hypocrisy extends to domestic issues in India, where they consistently fail to speak out for victims of love jihad or other atrocities. The brutal killings of Hindus during riots and other severe injustices are often ignored by these influential figures. These celebrities, who were vocal during the Rafah campaign, have neglected to address these critical issues, revealing their selective moral compass.
