Insecurity: Over 5000 Casualties, 3110 Kidnappings Between January 2023 and March 2024—Nextier Report

Nextier, in its first quarter 2024 Nigeria Violent Conflicts Report on Wednesday, said there were 5,319 casualties, 3,110 kidnapping victims, and 1,500 incidents of violent conflict between January 2023 and March 2024.

While presenting the report in Abuja, the organization’s Senior Policy Research Analyst, Kenn Maduagwu, lamented that, despite the decline in Boko Haram’s insurgency, the continued threat from ISWAP, evolving tactics, and underlying vulnerabilities has shown that terrorism remains a significant concern in Nigeria in 2024.

He stated, “While fatalities have decreased in 2023, the overall toll remains significant.” The conflict has caused widespread displacement. This can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and drive families deeper into poverty.”

According to the report, gunmen attacks, banditry, farmer-herder conflict, and kidnapping continue to be high-risk conflicts across the country, while civil unrest, maritime piracy, armed robbery, secessionism, and communal clashes are low-risk conflicts.

“Criminal gangs and terrorist groups will continue to use ransom kidnapping to fund their operations. According to the report, the current agitation and government response may continue without significant changes, potentially resulting in prolonged tension and instability.

Ndubuisi Nwokolo, a Partner at Nextier, lamented the conflict’s multifaceted impact, which included economic devastation, educational threats, and humanitarian crises.

He stated that “Nigeria’s ongoing violent conflicts have inflicted severe wounds on the country’s economy, affecting livelihoods, food production, infrastructure, and overall development.”

“Prolonged insecurity undermines trust in government institutions. When the government fails to protect its citizens, it risks losing legitimacy. As a result, ethnic militias and other non-state armed groups have emerged, operating in a variety of areas,” he stated.