In just March alone, there were 428 security incidents in Nigeria resulting in 702 abductions and 1,497 fatalities.
A comparison with March 2021 shows a 144% increase – 175 to 428 – in the number of incidents, a 76.4 % hike in abductions – 398 to 702 – and a 143% rise in fatalities – 889 to 1497.
These are the shocking findings of Beacon Consulting, a security risk management and intelligence consulting company. As a security firm, Beacon Consulting specialises in providing expertise and analyses to help its clients to adopt proactive measures to improve their security, facilitate compliance and enhance operational efficiency.
With extensive experience in security and intelligence consulting, the firm’s security professionals identify risk and prepare their clients for favourable control, giving them the peace of mind to meet their set goals and objectives.
Beacon Consulting is also responsible for tracking and documenting violence or crises that hinder security across Nigeria on monthly basis. The security firm is in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Over the years, Nigeria has been grappling with numerous security threats, particularly the 13-year insurgency in its northeast region, other uprisings by armed groups, such as bandits in the northwest and north-central, separatist militancy in the southeast and other security challenges, including cultism, piracy and communal conflict in the north-central, the south-south and southwest regions.
Beacon Consulting monitored a marked increase in security incidents in the north-central and northwest Nigeria, with incidents in Niger and Kaduna State generating national and international attention.
The firm also monitored the continuation of the federal and state governments’ efforts to address the security challenges in the country.
It monitored social upheaval associated with women’s groups, organised labour and students’ union grievances with the government, as well as the significant disruption to the petroleum product supply that has negatively affected the country.
These are in addition to inflation, supply-chain disruption and the hike in commodity prices triggered by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that has accentuated the structural deficiencies driving insecurity in Nigeria.
Beacon Consulting said that in March 2022, the Nigerian government’s efforts failed to prevent a month-to-month increase in security incidents and fatalities, as well as kidnappings. Based on the firm’s security report on the third month of the year, 428 incidents were recorded, which resulted in 702 abductions and 1,497 fatalities.
These affected 217 local government areas in 35 states. A month-to-month analysis of the changes in the figures recorded in February 2022 and March 2022 shows a 40.1 % increase in kidnappings and a 68.8% increase in fatalities.
A comparison of the incidents that occurred in March 2021 and March 2022 shows a 144% rise (175 to 428) in incidents, a 76.4 % increase in abductions (398 to 702) and a 143% increase in fatalities (887 to 1,497).
Some Nigerians told RNI that if what Beacon Consulting has published is factual, then Nigeria is no longer safe for anyone. They said the Federal Government needs to change tactics in its fight against the insurgency and other armed groups if it wants to drastically curb these security challenges.
Goni Ibrahim said: “It shocked me when I heard that more than 1,000 humans were killed in one month. Honestly this indicates that Nigeria is at war! We are no longer safe to even conduct our day-to-day business activities peacefully. The government must tie its belt to address these issues of insecurity, not only in Borno and other states in the northeast but also in the northwest and other geopolitical zones in Nigeria.”
“The level of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming something else. How on earth is it possible that almost 1,500 people lost their lives in one month? It’s as if we don’t have government authorities. Look at what’s happening in Kaduna, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara and the rest – killings and kidnappings of innocent people are rampant and the government is not doing anything for God’s sake! Issues of insecurity are all over Nigeria. People cannot farm or do their daily business activities because of this insecurity. The Federal Government has to find a solution to put a stop to this rising insecurity,” said Modu Ali.
Umar Sanda, a public affairs analyst, told RNI that the upsurge in violence, communal conflicts and other crimes, such as kidnappings, in all directions from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, might be connected to the upcoming 2023 general elections.
“The findings of the security report by Beacon Consulting that 1,497 Nigerians were killed last month because of insecurity is very worrisome. It’s the collective responsibility of all Nigerians, including politicians and traditional rulers, as well as religious leaders, to tackle this growing insecurity without compromising the national interest.
“Killings and kidnappings are increasing on a daily basis, particularly in Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna, among other states in the northwest and north-central. Just recently, some gunmen attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train, during which a number of passengers were abducted. So, apart from northeast region, which has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram [Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS)] insurgency for 13 years now, the issue of insecurity today is gradually consuming the whole of Nigeria.”
Sanda said that as the 2023 general elections draw nearer, gunmen will continue attacking and burning villages, destroying lives and property, to the extent that one cannot will be able to travel 10km safely. This is an indication of how Nigeria’s insecurity is worsening.”
Sanda said it is imperative for the Nigerian government to take strategic measures to tackle the rising security challenges because without peace and security there will be no development in the economy, education, politics, agriculture or infrastructure.
“Without peace and security, there will be no farming activities. Without peace and security, there will be no education. Without peace and security, there will be no daily business activities. And without peace and security, there will be no socioeconomic development.
“It’s imperative for government authorities to respond immediately to the growing security challenges bedevilling the country. If it does not, Nigeria will suffer from political instability like other African countries, such as Somalia, Liberia, Chad. And, by the time these gunmen finish with the people, they will turn to highly placed individuals and top government officials. The government urgently needs to address the issue of this insecurity before it consumes everyone.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
