Nigeria Recorded 12,954 Violent Deaths in 2025 — Nigeria Watch Report

Nigeria recorded 12,954 deaths from violent incidents in 2025, up from 12,162 in 2024, according to the 15th Report on Violence in Nigeria by Nigeria Watch, a research outfit based at the University of Ibadan.

The report, compiled by Dr. Vitus Nwankwo Ukoji with Dr. Abiola Victoria Ayodokun, shows that a total of 222,137 people have been killed in 46,182 violent incidents across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT between 2006 and 2025.

Banditry Overtakes Insurgency as Deadliest Threat

For the first time, rural banditry has overtaken insurgency as the single deadliest driver of violence in the country. Bandit attacks and counter-operations claimed 3,974 lives in 2025, a sharp jump from 1,452 in 2024.

The number of states affected by rural banditry also expanded from nine in 2024 to 16 in 2025. Kwara State saw a major upsurge in attacks, particularly in Edu, Moro, Ifelodun and Pategi local government areas.

Zamfara recorded the highest number of banditry-related deaths, followed by Katsina, Niger, Kebbi and Plateau states.

Boko Haram insurgency and military counter-operations accounted for 2,454 deaths, with Borno State remaining the epicentre at 2,197 fatalities. Adamawa recorded 118 deaths, Yobe 21.

Kidnapping and Farmer-Herder Deaths Spike

Kidnapping-related fatalities rose sharply from 425 in 2024 to 747 in 2025. Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto recorded the highest death tolls from abductions. The report noted a shift from ransom-driven kidnappings toward organised raids and violent racketeering in some northern states. Civilians made up 57 per cent of kidnapping victims.

Farmer-herder clashes also worsened, with fatalities rising to 1,015 from 567 in 2024. Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths from pastoral conflicts, followed by Plateau and Kebbi states. In Benue’s Guma Local Government Area alone, attacks on Yelwata community killed over 200 people between June 8 and 14, 2025.

81% of Violent Deaths Occurred in the North

The report stated that about 81 per cent of all violent deaths in 2025 happened in Northern Nigeria, with the South accounting for 19 per cent. Borno was the most dangerous state with 28.3 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Zamfara, Niger, Plateau and Benue. Ekiti was the safest state with 0.5 fatalities per 100,000.

Beyond Borno (2,221 deaths), the hardest-hit states were Niger (1,438), Zamfara (1,426), Benue (811) and Katsina (731).

Crime-related violence accounted for 47 per cent of all fatalities, while political and religious violence contributed 27 per cent. Road accidents caused 13 per cent of recorded deaths, with 1,614 fatalities in 2025 — a slight drop from 1,672 in 2024.

The deadliest road accident was the January 18 tanker explosion at Diko Junction in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, where about 98 people died while scooping fuel from a fallen petrol tanker.

The report also flagged the growing activities of Mahmuda, a Boko Haram splinter faction affiliated with Ansaru, which has expanded operations into Kwara and Niger states through the Kainji Lake National Park.

Source: PM News Nigeria (Nigeria Watch 15th Report on Violence in Nigeria)