As the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu marks its first year in office, about 82 local and international Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have said that at least 4416 persons were killed in the past one year, while 4334 persons were abducted in incidents of mass atrocities across the country.
The CSOs said that these numbers do not account for the regular crimes of armed robbery and other forms of crimes within that range and it has reduced the citizens’ right to life and dignity guaranteed under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) to a mere inscription.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja as part of the activities to mark the National Day of Mourning (NDOM), the CSOs the intractable insecurity in Nigeria has earned it a place as one of the most insecure countries in the world as the country ranked 144th out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index in 2024.
The press conference was addressed by Lois Auta, Founder, Ceder Seed Foundation, Martins Obono, Executive Director TAP Initiative, and Frank Tietie the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER).
The intractable insecurity in Nigeria has earned it a place as one of the most insecure countries in the world. Nigeria ranked 144th out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index in 2024.
“Since the commemoration of the last National Day of Mourning #NDOM2023 on May 28th, 2023, and President Tinubu’s first year in office, our records show that at least 4416 people were killed and at least 4334 were abducted in incidents of mass atrocities across the country.
“These numbers do not account for the regular crimes of armed robbery and other forms of crimes within that range. These incidents of violence have reduced the citizens’ right to life and dignity guaranteed under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) to a mere inscription. The frequency of these atrocities has kept Nigerians in a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty and is impacting social cohesion, the economy, public health, and education across the country.
“While no region of the country has been spared in the past year, the North Central region has accounted for the highest number of fatalities from mass atrocities, with at least 1600 lives claimed in terror pillages, communal clashes, and herdsmen attacks. With at least 1,136 fatalities, mostly from terror-pillage attacks(banditry), the North West came in second.
“Particularly hard-hit were communities like Maradun Local Government in Zamfara State, which endured at least five separate incidents of terror pillages in 2023 in a series of attacks that claimed at least 118 lives.
“At least 904 people were killed in the North East in the past year. Boko Haram/ISWAP activities still account for the highest number of atrocious killings in the Northeast, particularly in Borno State, with pockets of incidents in Yobe and Adamawa states. We also noted an upsurge in insurgent group clashes. For example, at least 82 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in an inter-insurgent group clash in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State”, the CSOs said.
They said the Southeast recorded the highest number of killings in the southern part of the country, with at least 344 people killed, and most of these killings occurred in Imo and Anambra states.
“As reported in previous years, most of the killings were due to secessionist activities in the region. Cult gangs, communal clashes, and pockets of terror-bandit attacks continued to cost lives in the South-South region, where at least 272 people were killed. In the Southwest, at least 160 people were killed in cult clashes, herdsmen militia, attacks, and other isolated attacks.
“We noted that the sustained trend of brazen killings, abductions, and pillages across the country reflects the impunitious confidence of armed groups whose acts of violence are rewarded with ransom payments, control over pillaged communities, and taxes extorted from communities in exchange for peace.
Furthermore, the CSOs noted that the State security personnel have also continued to fall victim to the violence, with at least 262 security personnel killed on active duty across the country in the past year. These numbers according to them include 110 military and 126 police officers.
“The unmitigated levels of insecurity across the nation have continued to impact not only the dead; all Nigerians suffer the manifested consequences of food insecurity and economic hardships resulting from hindrances imposed by perennial insecurity. We also note its continued effect on the nation’s educational sector. At least 406 of the abductees within the period were students. We note with particular sadness that Nigeria continues to boast of having the most out-of-school children in the world.
They, however, warned President Bola Tinubu, the security service chiefs, and the representatives at the National Assembly that their continued failure to fulfill their constitutional duty will result in our passing a loud and consequential vote of no confidence in them.
In their demands, the CSOs urged the government to fulfill its constitutional obligations under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and ensure the security of Nigerians’ lives and property.
Address the gaping socioeconomic inequities that are exacerbating violent crimes across the country, acts humanely towards internally displaced persons across the country and communities affected by insecurity as stipulated in Section 17(2)(c) of the Constitution.
They also urged the government to prioritize improving the welfare (including psychosocial support) of our gallant security assets who daily deal with the trauma of being on the frontlines, disincentivize the payment of ransoms by tracking the financial flow of ransoms and communal extortions to identify and bring to book terrorists and terror merchants currently pillaging Nigeria, and investigate, arrest, and prosecute all perpetrators of these violent crimes, including those perpetrated during the 2023 general elections.
The CSOs that signed the speech include, 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, Abubakar Mohammed, Accountability Lab, Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), ACE-Nigeria, Advocacy Centre for Development, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), Alliances for Africa (AFA), Amnesty International Nigeria, BaobabforWomen’sHumanRights, Bauchi Human Rights Network, BENDEF, BOCODEP.
BudgIT, Bwatiye Community Development Association, Cedar Seed Foundation, CEE- HOPE, Centre for Community Excellence (CENTEX), Centre for Social Justice, Centre LSD, CISLAC, Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER), Clean Technology Hub, CLEEN Foundation, Community Life Project (CLP), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), Companions for the Development of Jibia Local Government Area, Connected Advocacy, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Disabled People in Leadership Initiative and Network of Women with Disabilities 33. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF), Enough Is Enough, Falana and Falana Chambers, F.S.A.F.C.I, FEMBUD, FENRAD, Garfield.
Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, Global Rights, Grassroots Development Centre, HEDA, Human Rights Network Jigawa, Initiative for Social Development, Keen and Care Initiative (KCI), Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, Life and Peace Development Organisation, Media Rights Agenda, Mowalek Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation, Nextier SPD (Security, Peace, and Development), Nigerian Network of NGOs, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI), Online Hub NG, OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative, Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN), Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), Partnership for Justice and Network of Nigerian Human Rights Defenders, Policy Alert, PRAWA International, Praxis Center, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), SBM Intelligence, Sesor Empowerment Initiative
SIPJAD, Social Action, Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre, Sokoto Youth Council, South Saharan Social Development Organisation, Stephanie Peacebuilding and Development Foundation (SPADEV), Support Initiative for Sustainable Development, Tap Initiative, TechHerNG, The Kukah Centre, The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) 78. Urban Alert, We The People, West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN), Woman in Media Communication Initiative (WIM), Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMNG), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) 84. Yiaga Africa, Yobe Youth Council.
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