No fewer than 6,800 Nigerians lost their lives to violent incidents in the first half of 2025, representing a disturbing 19 per cent spike in fatalities compared to the same period in 2024, a new report by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL) has revealed.
The report, which offers a sweeping analysis of Nigeria’s security situation from January to June 2025, documented 4,672 incidents nationwide within the period.
It warned that despite a marginal improvement in June, the overall outlook remains grim, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.
According to the findings, June witnessed a significant 48 per cent drop in reported incidents—declining from 895 cases in May to 465. Fatalities also dropped by over 14 per cent, while abductions plunged by nearly 75 per cent, signaling a temporary lull in the country’s violent trend.
However, BSIL analysts cautioned that the apparent reprieve in June should not be mistaken for sustained progress, as civilian deaths still made up over 72 per cent of fatalities recorded in the month. Most of these deaths were attributed to persistent farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central region.
The report noted that while abductions declined by 11.45 per cent in the second quarter compared to Q1, they remained worryingly high, especially in the North-West, which accounted for 72 per cent of all kidnapping cases.
Year-on-year, abduction figures rose by 30 per cent, indicating growing threats from non-state armed groups operating largely in rural and poorly policed areas.
Zamfara State was identified as the deadliest hotspot, leading both in fatalities (1,088) and abductions (1,755). The state, plagued by a cocktail of banditry and insurgency, epitomizes the deteriorating security situation in parts of the North.
“Despite a minor drop in incidents from April to June, fatalities rose by 5.66 per cent quarter-on-quarter, with the North-Central and North-East emerging as major conflict zones,” the report said.
BSIL warned that insecurity is likely to persist in the short term, driven by coordinated armed attacks, deepening poverty, hunger, and unresolved communal disputes.
It also pointed to the increasing involvement of foreign-backed armed groups, which, it said, are strengthening local actors with technical and logistical support.
“The interplay of communal violence, challenging terrain, enhanced threat actor capabilities (including foreign technical support), and persistent socio-economic grievances like hunger and poverty are exacerbating insecurity,” the report added.
To mitigate the crisis, the firm recommended heightened community vigilance, improved intelligence-sharing among security agencies, and targeted social investment to address root causes of violence.
“Businesses and individuals are advised to monitor ongoing developments and adapt security protocols accordingly,” it concluded.
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