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A recent security report conducted by Nigeria Mourn, an organization tracking violent incidents in Nigeria, has disclosed distressing statistics for the first quarter (Q1) of 2023. The report reveals that a total of 1,151 civilians and 79 security operatives were killed during this period. Additionally, there were at least 658 recorded abductions across the country.

The report highlights that Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) were responsible for 22.11% of the attacks, resulting in a minimum of 272 deaths. Political-related killings, largely associated with the recent 2023 general elections, accounted for 7.72%, leading to at least 95 deaths.

Banditry emerged as the primary cause of violent deaths in the country, representing 29.27% (360 deaths). Extra-judicial killings and killings related to herdsmen accounted for approximately 10.08% and 13.65% respectively, with at least 124 deaths attributed to the former and 168 deaths to the latter.

The report further reveals that secessionist campaigns, primarily in the Southeast, contributed to 6.75% of the deaths (at least 83 deaths), while cult clashes resulted in 4.96% (at least 61 deaths). Isolated attacks, mob attacks, armed robbery, and communal clashes collectively accounted for the remaining 5.45% (at least 67 deaths).

Despite the Nigerian government’s claims of reducing the activities of Boko Haram insurgents and defeating them, the report indicates a concerning increase in their operations. It also highlights that security personnel and Fulani herdsmen were primarily responsible for extra-judicial killings.

During the reviewed period, 6.42% of all violent deaths were security personnel, totaling at least 79 operatives across Nigeria. The remaining 93.58% comprised civilian casualties, amounting to at least 1,151 deaths.

Specifically, the report outlines that paramilitary forces, including the police (at least 54 deaths), constituted 68.35% of security personnel casualties, followed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at 12.66% (at least 10 deaths), and the military at 18.99% (at least 15 deaths). The police suffered the highest losses among security operatives during the first quarter of 2023.

Geographically, the Northern region experienced a higher number of violent incidents compared to the South. Of the total recorded deaths (at least 1,230), the North accounted for at least 932 violent killings (75.77%), while the South recorded at least 298 deaths (24.23%).

The report highlights that bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP, predominantly active in the Northern region, caused the highest number of victims. The North-Central region suffered the greatest casualties, with at least 331 deaths attributed to herdsmen activities in Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa States. The Northeast followed with at least 312 casualties, and the Northwest with at least 289 casualties.

In the South, the Southeast experienced a combined total of 140 deaths, largely linked to the activities of a violent secessionist group. The South-South recorded at least 88 deaths, while the Southwest reported at least 70 deaths.

An alarming observation from the data is that all reported civilian deaths occurred due to violent killings in the North-Central region, primarily caused by violent activities related to herders. Conversely, deaths resulting from secessionist activities were exclusive to the South, particularly the Southeast, where more than 90% of reported deaths were attributed to such acts. Extra-judicial killings by security personnel occurred in both the South and the North.

The report highlights specific incidents, such as at least 56 extra-judicial killings in Doma, Nasarawa State, and another 30 in Kutunku village, Wushishi LG, Niger State. These were a result of Nigerian Airforce shelling of suspected bandits’ locations in the North-Central region.