An alarming new report by The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) has unveiled the devastating impact of violence in Nigeria over the past four years. From October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2023, the country has experienced 9,970 violent incidents, resulting in the deaths of 55,910 individuals and the abduction of 21,621 others.
The comprehensive analysis highlights the severity of Nigeria’s security crisis, focusing on the targeting of religious communities amidst frequent attacks by insurgent groups. The ORFA documented 11,610 distinct attacks during this period, categorized as follows:
8,905 attacks involved killings without abductions.
1,065 attacks involved both killings and abductions.
1,640 attacks involved abductions without killings.
This data reveals an average of eight attacks per day involving either deaths or kidnappings. Of the 55,910 fatalities:
- 30,880 were civilians killed in 6,942 attacks.
- 25,030 fatalities involved members of security forces and terrorist groups.
Similarly, 21,532 civilians were abducted in 2,670 incidents, with an additional 89 abductions involving security personnel or terrorists.
The violence has inflicted severe distress on civilian populations, with reports of widespread fear and insecurity. The ORFA report noted instances of children sleeping in trees to avoid abductions and violence.
Significantly, the report shows a disproportionate impact on religious communities:
- Of the 30,880 civilians killed, 16,769 were Christians and 6,235 were Muslims.
- Among the 21,532 abducted civilians, 11,185 were Christians and 7,899 were Muslims.
The data suggests a troubling trend of religious targeting, exacerbated by the activities of lesser-known but highly active terrorist groups, notably the Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM). This group, responsible for numerous mass killings and abductions, operates primarily in Nigeria’s North Central Zone and Southern Kaduna.
The ORFA’s findings also underscore that only a small fraction of the violence is linked to ISIS or al-Qaeda affiliates, with the majority attributed to local terror groups such as the FEM.
The report further highlights the lack of effective intervention, with military forces often engaged in operations far from the immediate areas of violence. This situation has allowed Islamist extremists and other terror groups to operate with relative impunity.
In summary, the ORFA report paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape, characterized by widespread violence, significant loss of life, and a troubling trend of religiously motivated attacks.
