Nearly 20,000 people have been killed across Nigeria since May 2023, according to a coalition of civil society organisations that says the country is grappling with a deepening security crisis.
In a joint statement released on Thursday to mark the 9th National Day of Mourning, themed “Nigerian Lives Matter,” the coalition disclosed that at least 19,980 deaths and 12,362 abductions have been recorded nationwide within the period under review.
The statement, endorsed by 52 organisations, drew on data from massattrocities.org, which also showed that 1,486 security personnel have lost their lives while on active duty.
Among the groups behind the report are Global Rights, BudgIT, the 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 & Economic Rights (CASER), Clean Technology Hub and the CLEEN Foundation, among others.
The coalition highlighted the growing vulnerability of students, noting that at least 865 have been abducted from schools since 2023. It warned that widespread displacement and insecurity have forced many children out of classrooms, further compounding Nigeria’s education crisis.
Beyond killings and kidnappings, the organisations expressed alarm over allegations of extrajudicial killings and civilian casualties linked to security operations, including repeated cases of accidental airstrikes on non-combatant communities.
They stressed that the casualty figures do not include victims of everyday crimes such as armed robbery, arguing that the true scale of violence is even more severe in a country “that insists it is not at war.”
According to the statement, violence remains pervasive across all regions, driven by insurgency, terrorism, kidnappings and unlawful killings, with perpetrators acting “with boldness and impunity.”
The coalition attributed the persistence of these attacks to systemic governance failures and what it described as a diminishing value placed on human life.
“Communities are repeatedly attacked despite prior warnings and visible patterns of violence. Survivors are often left without justice, rehabilitation, compensation, or even acknowledgement from the state,” the statement read.
It further warned that insecurity is taking a toll on economic stability, particularly in the agricultural sector, where farmers are increasingly unable to access their lands. Schools, it added, are also operating under constant threat.
The groups questioned the effectiveness of the government’s surveillance systems, pointing to the continued operation of kidnapping and ransom networks despite available intelligence capabilities.
They also criticised political leaders for focusing on electoral strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than addressing urgent security concerns. “We remind them that corpses do not vote and that the erasure of communities means those wards cannot record verifiable votes,” the statement added.
The National Day of Mourning, the coalition noted, was established as a citizen-driven effort to honour victims of violent attacks and demand accountability from those responsible for safeguarding lives and property.
Calling for immediate action, the organisations urged the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of citizens, ensure the prosecution of offenders, strengthen intelligence and rapid response mechanisms, dismantle kidnapping networks, and provide adequate support for victims and displaced persons.
They also called for enhanced protection of schools, farming communities, women, children and other vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by insecurity.
Reaffirming their commitment to justice and accountability, the coalition said it would continue to amplify the voices of victims.
“Nigeria cannot continue to gather annually to mourn the dead while failing daily to protect the living. We refuse to become desensitised to preventable killings. Nigerian lives matter,” the statement added.
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