A coalition of civil society organisations has raised concerns over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, revealing that about 19,980 people have lost their lives while 12,362 others have been kidnapped since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The groups made the disclosure on Thursday during the commemoration of the 9th National Day of Mourning themed “Nigerian Lives Matter.” The statement, jointly endorsed by 52 organisations, relied on figures obtained from massatrocities.org and noted that 1,486 security operatives were also killed while carrying out their duties within the same period.
Among the organisations involved are Global Rights, BudgIT, Centre for Social Justice, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Centre LSD, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Clean Technology Hub and CLEEN Foundation.
According to the coalition, no fewer than 865 students have been abducted from schools nationwide since 2023, with thousands of children either displaced or forced out of classrooms due to insecurity.
The organisations also condemned alleged cases of extrajudicial killings and civilian deaths linked to security operations, including incidents involving accidental airstrikes on communities.
They stressed that the statistics, which do not include victims of conventional crimes like armed robbery, expose the gravity of insecurity in a country that officially claims not to be at war.
The statement lamented that violent attacks ranging from insurgency and terrorism to kidnappings and unlawful killings continue to affect Nigerians across different regions, while perpetrators act freely without fear of consequences.
The coalition argued that the persistent violence reflects serious failures in governance and a declining regard for the sanctity of human life.
“Communities are attacked repeatedly despite clear warning signs and recurring patterns of violence. Victims and survivors are often denied justice, compensation, rehabilitation or even recognition from authorities,” the statement noted.
The groups further warned that insecurity is worsening food inflation as many farmers can no longer safely access their farmlands. They also expressed fears over growing attacks on schools and increasing abductions of students.
They criticised what they described as the inability of government to dismantle kidnapping and ransom operations despite existing surveillance structures and security capabilities.
The coalition also faulted politicians for allegedly focusing on preparations for the 2027 elections rather than tackling insecurity. According to the statement, communities devastated by violence cannot meaningfully participate in elections.
The organisations explained that the National Day of Mourning was created as a citizen-driven initiative to honour victims of violent attacks and demand accountability from those responsible for protecting lives and property.
They urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward securing the country by prosecuting perpetrators of violent crimes, improving intelligence gathering, strengthening rapid response systems and dismantling kidnapping networks.
The coalition also called for increased humanitarian support for victims and internally displaced persons, alongside stronger protection for schools, farming communities, women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Reaffirming their commitment to speaking for victims of violence, the organisations insisted that Nigerians must not become accustomed to preventable deaths.
“Nigeria cannot continue to gather yearly to mourn victims while failing to protect citizens daily. Nigerian lives matter,” the statement added.