Nearly 20,000 Killed, 12,362 Abducted Since Tinubu Assumed Office — CSOs

A coalition of civil society organisations has raised fresh concerns over the state of insecurity in Nigeria, revealing that no fewer than 19,980 people have been killed while 12,362 others were abducted across the country since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

The groups disclosed the figures on Thursday during activities marking the 9th National Day of Mourning, held under the theme: “Nigerian Lives Matter.”

In a joint statement endorsed by 52 organisations, the coalition said the statistics were compiled from data obtained from massatrocities.org, adding that at least 1,486 security personnel also lost their lives while on active duty within the same period.

The coalition includes organisations such as Global Rights, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CLEEN Foundation and several other advocacy groups.

According to the statement, insecurity has continued to spread across communities despite repeated assurances from authorities, with attacks ranging from insurgency and terrorism to kidnappings and violent assaults on civilians.

The groups also disclosed that at least 865 students had been abducted from schools since 2023, worsening the country’s out-of-school children crisis and creating fear within the education sector.

They further expressed concern over alleged cases of extrajudicial killings and civilian casualties linked to security operations, including incidents involving accidental airstrikes on communities.

The coalition noted that the casualty figures excluded deaths from conventional crimes such as armed robbery, insisting that the scale of violence reflected a deeper national emergency.

“Communities are repeatedly attacked despite prior warnings and visible patterns of violence. Survivors are often left without justice, rehabilitation, compensation, or even acknowledgement from the state,” the statement read.

The organisations argued that the persistent killings and abductions point to broader governance failures and a weakening commitment to the protection of human life.

They warned that worsening insecurity is also fueling economic hardship, particularly food inflation, as many farmers can no longer safely cultivate their lands due to fear of attacks and kidnappings.

Schools in several parts of the country, the coalition added, are increasingly operating under fear, with many parents reluctant to send their children to class following repeated abduction incidents.

The groups questioned why kidnapping and ransom networks continue to operate despite advancements in surveillance and security technology.

They also accused political leaders of paying more attention to political alignments and preparations for the 2027 elections instead of prioritising the protection of lives and property.

“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 coalition urged the Federal Government to intensify intelligence gathering, strengthen rapid response mechanisms and ensure the prosecution of perpetrators of violent crimes.

It also called for increased protection for schools, farming communities, women and children, as well as humanitarian support for victims and displaced persons affected by violence.

The groups reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying the voices of victims and demanding accountability from public office holders charged with safeguarding lives and property.

“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.