A disconcerting report from Beacon Consulting, an Abuja-based security risk management, and intelligence consulting company, has unveiled a grim reality in Nigeria.
The 2023 Nigeria Security Report lays bare a shocking toll on lives, with no fewer than 7,472 people losing their lives and 3,161 abduction cases recorded across the country from January to October.
The monthly breakdown reveals a distressing pattern: 749 Nigerians killed in January; 624 in February; 961 in March; 707 in April; 679 in May; 854 in June; 552 in July; 638 in August; 581 in September, and a staggering 1,127 killed in October. Simultaneously, the report records 208 abductions in January; 173 in February; 411 in March; 302 in April; 168 in May; 239 in June; 329 in July; 369 in August; 344 in September, and 518 people abducted in October.
The gravity of the situation was further emphasized by a recent incident on November 1, 2023, where at least 40 people lost their lives in Yobe State.
Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked villagers, shooting, and triggering a landmine, marking the first major assault on the northeastern state in 18 months.
Dr. Kabir Adamu, the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Intel and a security expert, addressed the escalating insecurity, urging both federal and state governments to address the root causes.
He specifically pointed to the need to tackle weak state institutions, drug addiction, socio-economic grievances, poverty, unemployment, climate change effects, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Security expert Oladele Fajana highlighted the emergence of new waves of crimes affecting every geopolitical zone in the country.
Fajana expressed concern over the rise in ritual killings due to a “get-rich-quick” mentality, an increase in kidnappings, and a growing number of arrests of rapists.
Fajana recommended increased government investment in drones as a strategic measure to combat the prevailing insecurity.
As Nigeria grapples with these alarming statistics, the urgent call for comprehensive and strategic interventions becomes ever more pressing, demanding immediate action to safeguard the lives and well-being of its citizens.
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