By Vincess Okushi
GLOBAL RIGHTS RELEASES APRIL MASS ATROCITY REPORT
Global Rights Nigeria has said that the continuous loss of lives of security personnel is presenting a consistent threat to the general security of Nigerians and called for sustained and greater military interventions to tackle insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued by its communication officer stressed that comparing the month of March and that of April the mass atrocity is escalating with loss of lives to violent killings and abductions in some parts of the country.
Adding that it is heartbreaking to have reported the killings of over 50 people as a result of Herdsmen-Farmers clashes in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria.
According to the report, these attacks by Herdsmen in the North-Central part of the country, especially Benue State is on the increase as abductions spring up in the month of April.
“For the month of April 2023, our data tracking showed at least 545 people were killed with over 269 abductions in 104 communities across the country.
“This is the second-highest number of deaths recorded since the start of the year after March which indicated a minor decrease in violent killings compared to what was recorded in March. Moreover, abductions have gone up minimally when compared to the previous month.
“Banditry which was previously recorded in the past years as the largest cause of violent deaths across the country contributed to the highest death toll again in April with 244 deaths while Herdsmen related activities mostly in the North Central part of the country recorded 209 casualties, followed by Communal Clashes that constitute of about 24 deaths.
“Political-related killings claimed 17 casualties, while Boko Haram/ISWAP accounted for 14 deaths. Cult Clashes and Isolated Attacks claimed 12 lives each while Secessionist activities in the Southeastern part of the country claimed at least 8 lives. Extra-Judicial Killings mostly perpetrated by security personnel caused about 3 deaths, the lowest recorded since the start of the year. Mob Attacks presented 2 casualties.”
On the security personnel, the report noted that “Out of a total of at least 545 people killed, 3.85% of them were security personnel amounting to 21 deaths, which constituted 13 Police officers, 4 Military personnel and 4 Immigration personnel across the country in April, while the remaining 96.15% of the lives lost were civilians (524 deaths). The data on killings of security operatives shows a significant decrease from what was previously recorded in other months. Additionally, the continued loss of security personnel constitutes a consistent threat to the general security of Nigerians. Security personnel in Nigeria have faced significant challenges and dangers in recent years, with reports of attacks by armed groups and criminal organizations.”
Adding that “Data collected in April indicates that at least 269 people were kidnapped in various geopolitical zones of the country with Bandits operating mainly in the Northwest and North Central parts of the country as the main perpetrators.
“About 94.42% of the abductions took place in the North-Central (125 abducted) and Northwest (126 abducted) while the Northeast has only had 3 reported abductions within this period. Moreover, at least 5.58% representing 15 abductions happened in the Southern part of the country: the South-South recorded at least 9 abductions, while the Southeast had about 2 cases of abduction casualties while the Southwest has only 4 people abducted.
“Even with the decrease in abductions compared to what was recorded previously, it is confirmed that this emerging form of mass atrocities continues to pose a threat to the activities of citizens and their sources of livelihood in all regions of the country.” It revealed that despite military operations in some parts of the country and its positive results there’s a need to scale up activities in all regions for the protection of lives and properties.
