A coalition of civil society organisations has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, disclosing that at least 19,980 people have been killed while 12,362 others were abducted across the country since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The groups issued the warning on Thursday during the commemoration of the 9th National Day of Mourning, a citizen-led initiative established to honour victims of violent killings and demand accountability from government authorities responsible for protecting lives and property.
In a joint statement themed “Nigerian Lives Matter,” the coalition accused the Federal Government of failing to adequately tackle the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings and attacks affecting communities nationwide.
The statement was endorsed by more than 90 organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Yiaga Africa, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Global Rights, CLEEN Foundation and the Centre for Information Technology and Development.
Citing data compiled by massatrocities.org, the organisations stated that the security situation had deteriorated significantly despite repeated assurances from authorities.
According to the coalition, at least 1,486 security personnel have also been killed in active service since May 2023, while no fewer than 865 students were abducted from schools during the same period.
“The persistence of these atrocities reflects deeper governance failures and the dangerous erosion of the value placed on human life,” the statement read.
The coalition warned that communities across Nigeria continue to face recurring attacks from armed groups, terrorists, kidnappers and criminal gangs, often with little or no protection from security agencies.
It added that many survivors of attacks are left without justice, compensation or rehabilitation, despite the scale of the humanitarian crisis created by the violence.
The groups also expressed concern over increasing cases of alleged extrajudicial killings and civilian casualties during military operations, including repeated incidents of accidental airstrikes on communities.
“We are disturbed by the contradiction between the state’s demonstrated surveillance capabilities and its apparent inability to disrupt kidnapping and ransom networks operating across the country decisively,” the organisations stated.
The coalition argued that the worsening insecurity is contributing heavily to food inflation and economic hardship, especially as farmers in several states now struggle to safely access their farmlands due to attacks and abductions.
It further noted that schools in vulnerable communities increasingly operate under fear, worsening Nigeria’s already severe out-of-school children crisis.
The organisations accused political leaders of shifting attention toward preparations for the 2027 general elections instead of focusing on the protection of lives.
“We remind them that corpses do not vote and that the erasure of communities means those wards cannot record verifiable votes,” the statement added.
The latest warning comes amid renewed outrage over recent school attacks in Borno and Oyo states, where at least 82 pupils were reportedly abducted during separate incidents between May 13 and 15.
In Borno State, armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas, abducting dozens of pupils.
Another coordinated attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State reportedly targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, leading to the abduction of 40 pupils.
The Oyo attack also left a mathematics teacher, a motorcyclist and a security operative dead during rescue efforts.
The coalition called on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen intelligence gathering, prosecute perpetrators of violent crimes, dismantle kidnapping networks and improve protection for schools, farming communities, women and children.
It also urged authorities to expand humanitarian support for displaced persons and survivors affected by the violence.
“Nigeria cannot continue to gather annually to mourn the dead while failing daily to protect the living. We refuse to become desensitised to preventable killings. Nigerian lives matter,” the statement said.
