A report published by Nigeria Watch has said that violence claimed the lives of 13,537 lives in Nigeria in 2021.
This is contained in the Eleventh Annual Report on lethal violence in Nigeria by Nigeria Watch which covers the period between 1 January and 31 December 2021.
The Nigeria Watch project is hosted by the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) at the University of Ibadan’s Institute of African Studies.
It is supported by the IRD (Institut derecherche pour le développement, Paris), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), and the British Council’s programme Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN).
According to the report, violence in Nigeria claimed 13,537 lives in 2021, with Borno State accounting for the highest number of fatalities (1,853), followed by Zamfara (1,516), Kaduna (1,342), Niger (935), and Benue (625).
The report said on the other hand, Gombe, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Adamawa, and Cross River states recorded the lowest number of fatalities in 2021.
It reported that Zamfara State was the most dangerous state in 2021, as it recorded 28.9 fatalities and homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. By contrast, Gombe, Ekiti, and Kano were the least violent states.
It added that the number of fatalities resulting from crime in Nigeria surged from 5,446 in 2020 to 7,446 in
2021.
“The increase was attributed to the rise in rural banditry, mass kidnapping, and cultism in some states. Violence involving farmers and suspected herdsmen claimed 703 lives in 2021, against 616 in 2020.
“Overall, 21 states recorded fatalities resulting from pastoral conflicts. Benue, Plateau, and Ebonyi were most affected. By contrast, very few incidents related to such clashes were reported in Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.
“Criminal gangs were involved in incidents resulting in 7,117 deaths, the highest number by any other protagonist in 2021. As for security operatives and ethno-political groups, they took part to various incidents resulting in 4,740 and 4,640 fatalities respectively,” the report said.
The report added that in 2021, road accidents claimed 1,877 lives, against 1,464 in 2020, as Ogun recorded the highest number of road accident fatalities, followed by Bauchi and Kwara states.
