706 fatalities and 302 kidnappings were recorded in parts of the country in April 2023. These incidents affected 34 states and 180 local government areas and the Federal Capital Territory, according to Beacon Intel’s 2023 Nigerian Security Report released on Saturday.
A total of 277 Nigerians were killed in the attack. 168 died from unknown causes and 126 died from a single attack.
However, the crossfire killed 110 men. Meanwhile, 24 were caused by ambushes and one by detention.
A breakdown of the recorded fatalities showed 27.6% occurred in the North-Central geopolitical region (195 deaths), 24.9% occurred in the North-West geopolitical region (176 fatalities), 20.7% in North-East (146 deaths), South-West 12.0% (85 deaths), South-East 8.2% (fatalities 58) and South-South 6.1% (46 deaths).
The North constituted 73.2% of the total fatalities for April 2023.
The document further revealed that the top three states with the highest fatalities were; Borno with 100, Benue with 85 and Kaduna with 63. The North-Central recorded 46.0% (139) abductions. 41.7% (126 abductions) were recorded in the North West and the South-South 4.6% (14 abductions). Also, the South West had 4.3% (13 abductions), North-East and South-East had 1.7% (5 abductions).
The North constituted 89.4% of the total abductions for April 2023.
A comparison of incidents in April 2022 and April 2023 showed a 20.4% decrease (480/382) in insecurity-related incidents generally. The Northeast led in this with a recorded 70.2% decrease (151/45) in incidents. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the South-South geopolitical zone with a 54.7% increase (42/65).
Other geopolitical regions recorded; an 11% increase (76/85) in the North-Central, a 24.7% reduction (73/55) in the North-West, a 25.6% decrease (43/32) in the South-East, and a 5.3% increase (95/100) in the South-West.
A security consultant, Oladele Fajana, stated that security was everyone’s business. He advised the government to invest more in the purchase of drones to help address insecurity.
cc: Punch Ng
