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20,000 Nigerians Killed In 4 Years—Report
More than 20,000 people were killed or injured in violent incidents across Nigeria between 2020 and 2024, according to a new report highlighting the country’s worsening security crisis.
The report, published by Nextier, a non-governmental organisation, revealed that Nigeria recorded 5,291 violent incidents during the period, with 43 terrorist attacks and 1,306 bandit assaults in 2024 alone.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Nextier Managing Partner Dr Ndubuisi Nwokolo said the findings were based on data from the organisation’s Violent Conflicts Database.
Titled Mutations of Terror and Conflict, the report identified several external factors likely to shape Nigeria’s security landscape in 2025.
These include the war in Sudan, the expansion of terrorist groups across the Sahel, Nigeria’s strengthening ties with France, electoral outcomes in neighbouring countries, and Russia’s growing influence in Africa.
The report warned that illegal mining in the North West region was fueling armed banditry, making the area increasingly lawless and vulnerable to exploitation.
It also highlighted a surge in kidnappings, with 11,002 abductions recorded between June 2020 and December 2024, making the North West the most affected region.
Conflicts between farmers and herders have remained a major security challenge, particularly in the North Central and North West regions.
The report recorded 2,347 deaths from 359 violent incidents involving farmers and herders between 2020 and 2024.
In 2024 alone, 467 people died in 61 such clashes, with North Central accounting for nearly 90% of the casualties.
Other forms of violence identified in the report include cult clashes, communal conflicts, gunmen attacks, extrajudicial killings, and violent protests. Between 2020 and 2024, 2,988 cult-related clashes resulted in 695 deaths, with incidents peaking in 2022 before declining in 2023 and 2024.
The report urged the Nigerian government to strengthen both military and non-military approaches to tackling terrorism and banditry.
It called for better equipping of security forces and ensuring that increased defence spending translates into improved security outcomes.
It also warned that a newly emerging terrorist group, Lakurawa, could further escalate violence in 2025 and advised the government to enhance its regulatory and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
On the issue of secessionist tensions, the report suggested that the Nigerian government’s handling of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), could shape the trajectory of separatist agitation. It urged the government to consider his release to distinguish Biafra activists from armed criminals.
According to Nextier, the levels of kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and political conflicts in 2025 will depend on several factors, including how well the government implements livestock reforms, manages ethnic tensions, and oversees upcoming elections.
It pointed to ongoing friction between Nigeria’s Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups, political rivalry in Rivers State, and the spread of hate speech as potential sources of instability.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the bill aimed at establishing state police forces.
During a joint meeting with members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Kaduna on Saturday, Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, emphasized the need for this legislative action. He also called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security strategy to effectively address the recent surge in Boko Haram attacks and violent incidents in the north-central region.
Yahaya indicated that the forum reached a consensus regarding tax reform bills, highlighting the collaborative efforts involved. He commended President Bola Tinubu for engaging with stakeholders and reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance.
Through platforms such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council, Yahaya stated that a productive path forward has been identified, emphasizing the importance of a cooperative approach in managing intergovernmental relations for the benefit of the populace.
The Gombe governor expressed significant concern over the state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria, noting that many previously awarded projects have suffered from neglect. While recognizing President Tinubu’s dedication to completing key infrastructure initiatives, such as the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, he pointed out that other vital projects, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line and the Kano-Maiduguri expressway, remain unaddressed.
Yahaya stressed the necessity for innovative financing solutions, such as public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds, to bridge the existing gaps and establish a robust foundation for agricultural production and industrial growth.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum declared its intention to create inter-state platforms aimed at enhancing surveillance along shared borders. Additionally, they resolved to collaborate with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to develop strategies for bolstering support for federal security forces.
The forum reiterated its backing for the establishment of state police, urging the National Assembly to take swift action in enacting the necessary legal framework for its implementation.
Currently, the state police bill is under consideration in the National Assembly, proposing to move the term “police” from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However, some critics caution that such a system could be misused by state governors to suppress dissent. Supporters argue that state police would empower local authorities to effectively address security challenges without relying solely on federal intervention.
Two members of the 135 Special Forces Battalion are currently under investigation for suspected collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, raising significant concerns about national security in Yobe State.
Security operatives intercepted and analyzed the soldiers’ phone conversations, which indicated their involvement in the May 9 abduction of commuters along the Gashua–Azare highway.
A reliable source involved in the investigation reported that the soldiers allegedly disclosed the movements of their patrol team along the Buratai–Kamuya–Azare–Gashua route, facilitating an ambush by ISWAP fighters that temporarily hindered civilian travel until a counter-offensive successfully dispersed the terrorists.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama indicated that this betrayal likely allowed the terrorists to orchestrate the ambush. However, the same battalion’s troops quickly intervened, leading to the rescue of four kidnapped civilians and the recovery of weapons and equipment.
Military authorities have initiated a comprehensive internal inquiry into the incident. The two soldiers are presently in custody, and their identities are being withheld pending further investigation.
This development has raised alarms about potential internal sabotage and underscores the urgent need for enhanced intelligence monitoring within military ranks to prevent future breaches and safeguard the integrity of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East.
A senior security official emphasized, “The system will not tolerate any uniformed personnel found collaborating with enemies of the state. The fight against insurgency must be supported by unwavering loyalty and trust.”
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.