INSECURITY: ‘8,000 Nigerians killed, 260,000 others displaced in 10 years’

A total number of 8,000 Nigerians have lost their lives and another 260,000 other victims displaced within 10 years due to the rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria’s troubled northwest region.

This was revealed on Monday by the International Crisis Group following a fresh report titled: “Violence in Nigeria’s North West: Rolling Back the Mayhem,” published on its website.

The report by the international non-profit organisation revealed that most of the victims of the violence were mainly in Zamfara State which had witnessed a surge in banditry, cattle rustling and kidnappings in the period under review.

The report by the group further revealed that no fewer than 60, 000 of those displaced in the crisis in the northeast, are now refugees in the neighbouring Niger Republic.

READ ALSO: 219 new cases of COVID-19 take Nigeria’s total above the 6000 mark to 6,167; death toll now 191

“Over the last decade, more than 8,000 people have been killed – mainly in Zamfara State – with over 200,000 internally displaced and about 60,000 fleeing into Niger Republic. Livestock and crops have been decimated, further depressing human livelihood indices that were already the country’s lowest. The violence is aggravating other security challenges: it has forced more herders southward into the country’s Middle Belt, thus increasing herder-farmer tension in that region and beyond,” the report said.

The report also recommends steps the Nigerian government could take to help contain the situation.

“Durably ending the violence in Nigeria’s North West requires a multi-pronged approach, some of which must necessarily focus on the long term. The foremost priority is to encourage negotiated settlements between herders and farmers, as well as to disarm, rehabilitate and reintegrate members of their allied armed groups.

“In support of this effort, the federal and state governments should prioritise reforming livestock production systems in a manner that addresses the needs of both herders and farmers, and thereby minimises friction between them.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now