Nigeria has recorded a frightening surge in violent killings across the country in the first eight months of 2025, with the North leading the casualty count, according to new security and research reports.
From Borno to Benue, Plateau to Sokoto, and even parts of Edo, thousands of lives have been lost to insurgents, bandits, herders, and kidnappers. At least 5,450 deaths were linked to violent incidents between January and August, with civilians bearing the heaviest losses.
Independent think tank SBM Intelligence reported that nearly 2,740 civilians were killed, while over 420 security officers also lost their lives. Bandits, insurgents, cultists, and kidnappers made up the remaining figures.
The North-West accounted for the highest fatalities, with close to 1,800 deaths, followed by the North-East with 1,600. Middle Belt states like Benue and Plateau also witnessed mass killings, while insecurity spread into Edo, Ondo, and other southern states.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, described the killings as “unacceptable” and vowed to strengthen intelligence and deployments. He confirmed the arrest of two notorious Ansaru leaders Amir Mahmud Mohammed Usman (Abu Baraa) and his deputy, Amir Marmuda after a targeted operation between May and July.
“These two men have masterminded high-profile attacks, including kidnappings, robberies, and terrorist strikes,” Ribadu said. “Their capture is one of the most significant counter-terrorism achievements in Nigeria’s history.”
Despite such breakthroughs, recent attacks show the crisis remains acute.
In Borno, at least 60 villagers were massacred in Bama LGA by Boko Haram factions.
In Katsina, bandits killed seven during raids on Magajin Wando village.
In Benue, over 40 were slaughtered in Guma LGA.
Plateau witnessed more than 200 deaths in three months, with Governor Caleb Mutfwang warning of “orchestrated genocide.”
Sokoto saw repeated bandit raids and vigilante reprisals, while in Edo, eight NSCDC officers were killed and a Chinese expatriate abducted in Okpella.
The killings have been described by analysts as both a governance failure and a humanitarian catastrophe. Communities are left unprotected, farmers are unable to access land, schools remain closed, and food insecurity is worsening.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi called for a “national war on insecurity,” warning that casualty figures now rival those of countries officially at war.
While the government insists on ongoing military operations, critics argue that federal troops often arrive too late and that early warnings are ignored. Governors and community leaders continue to demand state policing, stronger vigilante support, and better coordination.
As Ribadu vowed, “Nigeria will continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve, and unwavering determination.” For millions of Nigerians caught in the violence, the hope remains that promises will soon translate into lasting safety.
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