Recent report by a civil society organisation, Global Rights Nigeria, has revealed that, at least, 22,431 people were killed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, between 2019 and May 2023.
The report notes that in 2019, about 3,188 people were killed. In 2020, the figure increased to 7,744. This went up to 14,639 in 2021; 20,431 in 2022 and as of May 29, 2023, 22,431 lives had been lost.
In a breakdown, the report notes 3,189 people died as a result of banditry; 722 lives were lost to Boko Haram insurgency; 310 were killed in communal clashes; 216 died from cult wars; extra-judicial killings took 253; herdsmen attacks claimed 422; isolated attacks, 166; political killings, 70; ritual killings, six; and secessionist activities, 380.
While presenting a paper on realities of mass atrocities at a two-day ‘Conflict Sensitive Reporting Training for Journalists’, in Abuja, the Country Manager of Global Rights Nigeria, Edosa Oviawe, said the findings were based on reports from the media, civil society groups and security agencies.
He said a breakdown from each region of the country in 2022 reveals that 1,990 people were killed and 3,064 people were abducted in the northwest. In north central, 1,220 people were abducted, while about 1,488 lost their lives. Figures for the northeast show that 1,014 people were killed, while 220 were abducted. In the southeast, 663 people were killed and 291 abducted. A total of 323 were killed in the southwest and 204 abducted, while in the south south, 314 people were killed and 163 abducted.
The report also notes that 844 security personnel were killed in 2022, with a breakdown showing: 424 military personnel, 379 police officers and 41 paramilitary members.
It reveals that in less than six weeks after President Bola Tinubu took office, 555 people had been killed and 267 others abducted. In north central, 261 people were killed; in the northwest, 101; south east, 54; northeast 34; and southwest, one.
Oviawe said figures from the International Centre of Election Atrocities (ICEA), established by Global Rights Nigeria to monitor violent actions during the 2023 polls, reveal that 137 election-related killings were recorded, including 57 abductions.
He described drivers of mass atrocities in the country as ethnic and religious diversions, political interests, power struggles, corruption, and scant regard for the rule of law.
Human rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, in his remarks, said journalists should be aware that some individuals benefit from conflicts and atrocities in the country.
According to him, “there are military personnel, military contractors, humanitarian workers, caregivers, aid workers, among others, benefiting from the crisis, who will not want it to end. So, journalists must be careful in the discharge of their duties.”
