No fewer than 7,472 were killed while there were 3,161 abduction cases across the country between January and October this year.
This is according to the 2023 Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence consulting company.
According to the report obtained by Sunday PUNCH on Friday, 749 Nigerians were killed in January; 624 in February; 961 in March; 707 in April; 679 in May; 854 in June; 552 in July; 638 in August; 581 in September and 1,127 were killed in October.
It also revealed that 208 Nigerians were abducted in January; 173 in February; 411 in March; 302 in April; 168 in May; 239 in June; 329 in July; 369 in August; 344 in September; and 518 people were abducted in October.
Recently, it was reported on November 1, 2023, that at least 40 people were killed in Yobe State from October 30 and 31, 2023 after suspected Boko Haram militants shot at villagers and set off a land mine in the first major attack on the north-eastern state in 18 months.
Speaking on the rising state of insecurity in the country, the Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Intel, and security expert, Dr Kabir Adamu, urged the federal and state governments to address the root causes of the challenges.
He specifically said that government should address the problem of weak state institutions, drug addiction, socio-economic grievances, poverty, unemployment, the effects of climate change, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”
A security expert, Oladele Fajana, said Nigerians were now delving into new waves of crimes, adding that every geopolitical zone was now affected by crimes.
Fajana noted, “There are new waves of crimes in the society and the criminals operate in every part of the country.
“The issue of ritual killing is now rampant due to the getting rich quick syndrome. Kidnappers and rapists are on the increase. More rapists are now being arrested as a result of advocacy and awareness by society.
“Crimes migrate and that is the reason why the whole geopolitical zones are affected.”
He advised the government to invest more in the purchase of drones to help address the issue of insecurity.
