79,323 Killed, 34,773 Abducted In Nigeria In Six Years, Report Says

A six-year investigation by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa has reported that 79,323 people were killed in terrorism-related violence in Nigeria between 2020 and 2025.

Vanguard and Punch reported that the same study also put the number of civilians abducted within the period at 34,773. The findings were released in Jos in a report titled, “Four Times Boko Haram? How the World Misreads Nigeria’s Violence.”

According to the reports, ORFA said the violence translated to an average of seven attacks and 36 deaths per day across the six-year period. The organisation said 42,033 of the recorded deaths were civilians, while 37,290 involved security personnel and armed attackers.

The report was announced in a statement signed by ORFA Senior Research Analyst Frans Vierhout. ORFA said its researchers spent years cross-checking attack patterns and compiling data on killings and abductions linked to terrorism-related violence.

Vanguard reported that the organisation said its findings challenge some common assumptions about the drivers of insecurity in Nigeria. Punch also reported that ORFA documents rights violations and uses its research to inform decision-makers through advocacy.

The figures add to the continuing debate on the scale of insecurity, civilian protection and the response of security agencies in affected communities. The report’s six-year window covers violence in several parts of the country, including areas hit by armed groups, abductions and attacks on rural communities.

The outlets presented the figures as findings from ORFA’s report, not as figures independently compiled by government agencies. The draft therefore keeps the attribution tied to the organisation and the two reporting outlets.

Sources: Vanguard, Punch