*Says violent killings dropped by 28.26% compared to April
Global Rights Nigeria has disclosed that at least 391 people were killed with over 207 persons abducted in 91 communities across the country in the month of May 2023.
In its mass atrocities report for the month of May, the non-governmental organization said the figure is the 3rd lowest recorded since the start of the year.
According to the NGO, the figure showed a 28.26 percent decrease in violent killings compared to what was recorded in April. Moreover, abductions have gone down by 22.30 percent compared to the previous month of February.
Nigeria Mourns is a data-tracking report summarising mass atrocities across Nigeria.
“Communal Clashes claimed the highest number of deaths in April, with 135 deaths ahead of Banditry which accounts for at least 122 casualties, followed by Herdsmen-related Killings which constitutes at least 44 casualties.
“Secessionist activities in the Southeast claimed at least 28 lives. Cult Clashes were responsible for at least 34 deaths while Boko Haram/ISWAP and Isolated Attacks claimed at least 14 lives respectively,” it said.
Out of the 391 killings recorded, 7.16 percent representing 28 deaths were security personnel representing.
A breakdown revealed that 16 cops and 12 military personnel were killed across the country in April, while the remaining 92.84% of the lives lost were civilians (at least 363 deaths).
The report noted that “Though the data on killings of security operatives shows a significant decrease, the continued loss of lives of security personnel in Nigeria creates significant challenges and dangers in recent years, with reports of attacks by armed groups and criminal organizations.”
The report further revealed that at least 207 people were kidnapped across the country with bandits operating mainly in the Northwest and North Central parts of the country being the main perpetrators.
“72.25% representing 151 of such abductions took place in the North-Central and Northwest parts of the country respectively while the Northeast had at least 3 reported abductions within the period under review.
“However, 27.75% of casualties representing 58 abductions happened in the Southern part of the country. The South-South recorded at least 36 abductions; the Southeast recorded at least 10 abduction cases while the Southwest recorded 12 people abducted.
“Even with this seeming decrease in abduction cases compared to what was recorded previously, it has been confirmed that this emerging form of mass atrocities continues to pose a threat to the free movement of citizens in pursuit of their livelihoods,” Global Rights said.
While acknowledging a decrease in mass atrocities, the report noted the increased Herdsmen related killings in the North-Central part of the country especially Benue State leaves a lot to be desired as the mayhem continues to escalate.
“Sadly, the continued unending reported loss of lives of security personnel is a grievous assault which continuously strikes an air of palpable fear to the consciousness of all Nigerians raising doubts as to the capacity of the nation’s military to effectively secure her land and people.
To allay these fears in the minds of people, there’s a need for a sustained and far-reaching military offensive against criminality in the different regions of the country which are all experiencing one form of human rights violation or the other,” the report said.
