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NIGERIA CONFLICT FACTSHEET, AUGUST 2023

In this month’s overview of conflict incidences, it was observed that there is an increase in the level at which civilians, mostly women and children are being kidnapped by Bandits in the North-West and North-East. In a specific incidence in the North-West states, Janbako in Zamfara, 29 persons were abducted at a spot and other records of kidnapping within the region such as Kaduna, Sokoto, and Katsina. Also, in the North-East, in Mafa, Borno state, 46 women were abducted in IDP Camp despite a heightened military presence. This indicates the heightened level of insecurity even within people living in IDPs.

In the South-East, On 27 August 2023, an unidentified armed group abducted 18 civilians from along the Okigwi expressway (Okigwe, Imo) where they shot indiscriminately at a commercial bus. There was also an increase in the destruction of properties especially that of traditional rulers.

South-West experienced an alarming level of mob violence and riots by NLC workers who demonstrated their actions on the streets of Lagos and Ibadan demanding against the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

The fatality rate in Nigeria caused by conflict is also alarming. In this month of August 2023, a total of about 647 were recorded across all the regions in Nigeria. With North-East having the highest number of deaths caused by clashes or battles between Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Military forces in Borno, Nigeria. And in other attacks, civilians and military personals were killed across the regions.

Other incidences in the reporting includes, arrest, looting/property destruction, rioters/protesters.

Table 1: Number of Deaths across all the Regions in Nigeria

RegionsFrequencyPercentage
North West8713
North East33452
North Central16726
South West102
South East203
South South294
TOTAL                                   647                                            100

The table above shows the frequency with percentage of death across all the regions in Nigeria. About 87 (13%) deaths were recorded in the North-West, 334 (52%) in the North-East, 167 (26%) in the North-Central, 10 (2%) in the South-West, 20 (3%) in the South-East and 29 (4%) in the South-South region of Nigeria. The North-Eastern part of Nigeria had the highest level of deaths recorded which was mostly caused by armed clashes. This is to say that the North-East region experiences a high level of insecurity challenges leading to clashes between the military and the proscribed armed group. The North-Central region is majorly faced with issue of farmer-herder conflict. These has led to attacks, clashes and killing of civilians by armed Fulani militia and Pastoralists in the region.

A pie chart representing the number of deaths across all the regions in Nigeria.

The table above shows the various incidences and the number of deaths in Nigeria. This indicates that due to increased level of insecurity especially in the North-East, there tends to be an increase in the deaths across the country caused by armed clashes and attacks by different armed groups. The question is what is leading to these armed clashes. These clashes occur even between the military and proscribed armed groups, which is a fight for the military against the armed groups and possibly led to death of the military personnel, armed groups, civilians either through air/drone or explosions.

A column chart representing the different types of incidences and number of deaths in Nigeria.

Incidences of Violence in Nigeria

The reported issues of violence in Nigeria include;

Kidnapping/Banditry

North-East Nigeria, notably Borno State, is highly susceptible to attacks and kidnappings by Islamist groups, including ISWAP and Boko Haram. Despite a heightened military presence, militants will continue to pose a significant threat to security over the near term, particularly in the border areas with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Regular attacks on civilian settlements and security forces positions are almost certain to continue. However, there is an increase in the rate of kidnapping in the North-West, which also records the highest number of victims abducted from this month’s report followed by the North-Central region.

RegionsFrequencyPercentage
North west15446
North East8325
North Central196
South West216
South East3210
South-south227
TOTAL                                   331                                            100

Th above table shows the number of persons abducted in each of the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. In the northwest 154 (46%) were abducted which marks the highest in course of the reporting month. 83 (25%) persons were abducted in the North-East, 19 (6%) in North-Central, 21 (6%) in South-West, 32 (10%) in South-East and 22(7%) in the South-South region.

A chart showing the number of persons abducted across all the regions in Nigeria.

Armed Clash/Battles

This is one of the major incidences in Nigeria which has resulted to death of many civilians; women, children, military and also armed groups. There tend to be an increase in clash between ISWAP and the Boko Haram group especially in Borno, North-East. And in the North-West are clashes between the military and proscribed armed groups. However, the number of deaths resulting from these clashes in the North-West and other regions is fewer compared to the number of deaths in the North-East.

Attacks

Attacks on civilians by state militias is another cause of the increased number of deaths and abduction across all regions, most especially the North-Western part of Nigeria. There were more than 33 attacks on farmers and civilians by state militias in the North-West, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna militias, 28 in the North-Central (Fulani Pastoralist and Niger militia), 8 in the North-East (ISWAP), 7 in the South-East and South-South (Cult groups) and 4 in the South-West (Military forces).

Arrests There was not much incidence of arrest during this reporting month. The only reported record of arrest that occurred was on 26 August 2023, in the South-West when policemen arrested 116 suspected members of the Neo-Black movement also called Black Axe militia and Aiye confraternity at Ifo LGA, Ogun. The suspects who comprised of 70 males and 46 females were arrested during an initiation and 20th anniversary celebration of the group. And in the South-South, on the 28 August 2023, policemen arrested over 100 men at a hotel in (Warri

South, Delta) coded to Warri over suspicion that they were holding a gay wedding ceremony.

Looting/Property Destruction

In this month’s (August 2023) report, looting and property destruction was higher in the South-East and with a record of an incidence of property destruction in the North-Central, North-East and South-South. On 8 August 2023, an unidentified armed group burnt down the home of the house of representative’s member representing Ihiala federal constituency at Ubahi-Mbosi, coded to Mbosi (Ihiala, Anambra). A duplex, bungalow and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed, setting two vehicles ablaze when they invaded the residence of the Ebonyi state commander of the neighbourhood security watch at Ngbo (Ohaukwum, Ebonyi). A policeman and an unidentified armed group who were working on the orders of the state government invaded the Labor Party secretariat and vandalized it in Owerri (Owerri Municipal, Imo) as claimed by party’s national publicity secretary and also set ablaze the residence of the traditional ruler of Ndia Iche Arondizuogu and Okwuru in the community, coded to Ndizuogu (Ideato North and to Orsu Ihiteukwa, Imo respectively.

In the North-Central, unidentified armed group set the car of an SDP chieftain ablaze when they invaded his residence in Emewe-Opada (Dekina, Kogi). In the North-East, Fulani militia chased away farmers and grazed their cattle on their farm in Suktu (Song, Adamawa).

In the South-South region, on 23 August 2023, troops of 6 division of the Nigerian Army destroyed an illegal oil refining site belonging to an unidentified armed group at Ogbokoko and Atu (Warri South, Delta) coded to Warri. 8 active ovens, 14 storage reservoirs containing an estimated 200,000 and 90,000 liters of locally refined Automotive Gas Oil were destroyed. And also, 2 August 2023, pirates stole a passenger boat that took off from Abonnema (Akukutoru, Rivers) and was headed to Soku. The assailants off-loaded the passengers on the boat by the mangroves and stole the boat.

There tends to be an increase on the destruction of the properties of traditional rulers in the South-East. Therefore, there is need for the intervention of government provide solution to the general problem.

Mob violence/ Riots According to reports, South-West region, Lagos experienced a higher level of mob violence and riot which led to the death of civilians and military (police). Due to the issue of fuel subsidy and its effect in the country especially among public workers, there has been a rise in the level of protest demanding against the removal of fuel subsidy. In Oyo state workers who are also members of NULGE, NUP, TUC and NLC beat up their colleagues who did not join in their demonstration and chased them out of their offices in Agodi (Ibadan North, Oyo). It was reported that one person was injured in the process. In North-Central demonstrators from the NLC and TUC forcefully broke down a gate at the exterior entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja (Abuja Municipal, FCT) after they were denied access by the security men stationed there while they were demonstrating against the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant hardship.

Recommendations

Addressing insecurity in Nigeria requires a sustained and coordinated effort from all levels of government, civil society and international partners. It is essential to prioritize the safety and well-being of the Nigerian people while working towards long-term stability and prosperity. However, it is of the role and responsibility of the government to;

1. Strengthen security forces by training, equipping and motivating the military, police and other security agencies to enhance their capacity to combat various forms of insecurity. And also, implement comprehensive security sector reform to ensure efficiency, accountability and respect for human rights within security forces.

2. Community Policing and Intelligence gathering: Promote community policing to build trust between the police and local communities, enabling better intelligence gathering and collaboration in crime prevention and also to establish channels for citizens to report suspicious activities anonymously.

3. Address Socioeconomic Inequality by implementing policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality, which are often underlying factors in insecurity. Currently, the biggest challenge faced by Nigerians is the issue of fuel subsidy which has led to inflation and other socioeconomic activities of citizens. It is important for the government to tackle these issues and also invest in education, job creation and skills development programs to provide alternatives to vulnerable youth who may be lured into criminal activities.

Conclusion

Insecurity in Nigeria has reached alarming levels, affecting the lives and livelihoods of its citizens and hampering economic development. The causes of insecurity are numerous and interrelated, including but not limited to ethnic and religious tensions, economic inequality, political instability, and the activities of insurgent groups, criminal organizations and bandits.

As a result of this conflict issues, an uncountable number of persons had lost their lives, families, properties and also those that are alive continues to live in fear and agitations. Even women and children in IDPs are no longer safe due to the increase level of banditry especially in the North-East and North-West. Farmers are also scared of going to their farms due to the fear of attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the North-Central region.

Presently, in the southern part of Nigeria, is the attack from cultists and destruction of properties by unknown gunmen.

References

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/08/15/again-bandits-attack-zamfara-community-abduct-several-residents/
https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2023/08/nigeria-suspected-militants-kidnapped-46-women-in-borno-state-aug-22
https://punchng.com/boko-haram-ethnic-factions-battle-kill-82-in-borno/

ACLED data

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/08/28/police-arrest-116-suspected-cultists-in-ogun-state/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CToday%2026%2F08%2F23,scene%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20statement%20said.
https://saharareporters.com/2023/08/29/nigerian-police-arrest-over-100-suspects-alleged-same-sex-wedding-ceremony-delta#:~:text=The%20Delta%20State%20command%20of,Government%20Area%20of%20the%20State.
https://newsrangers.com/unidentified-assailants-set-ablaze-reps-members-house-in-anambra/
https://punchng.com/oyo-workers-continue-protest-beat-up-colleagues-for-non-compliance/



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