Over 971 Nigerians Abducted in October 2024 – ReportA recent report by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL) reveals that no fewer than 971 Nigerians were abducted nationwide in October 2024.
The alarming figures coincide with the emergence of a new terror group, Lakurawa, operating in the northwestern region of the country.
The findings are detailed in BSIL’s October 2024 Nigeria Security Report, which highlights significant deterioration in national security metrics, including a 51% rise in fatalities and a 24.42% increase in abductions compared to previous months.
The report warns that 2024 may become the worst year for Nigeria’s security performance in the past decade.
Key Findings1. Incidents and Fatalities:October recorded 861 security incidents, with 64.92% attributed to security threats, 24.79% linked to security forces’ operations, and 4.99% due to safety-related incidents.
A total of 1,545 fatalities were reported, a sharp increase from 1,022 in September.
Of these, 67.70% were civilian deaths, 25.89% were members of non-state armed groups, and 6.40% were security personnel.2. Abductions:The number of abducted individuals rose from 807 in September to 971 in October, marking a 20.32% increase.
The North West was the most affected region, accounting for 83.83% of all abductions, while the South West experienced the least, with just 0.21%.Northern Nigeria bore the brunt of the crisis, recording 954 abductions (98.25%), compared to 17 (1.75%) in Southern Nigeria.3. Regional Distribution of Fatalities:
The North West and North Central regions accounted for 66.09% of all fatalities, while the South-South reported the lowest fatality rate (3.56%).
Overall, Northern Nigeria accounted for 83.04% of fatalities, compared to 16.96% in the South.
Root Causes of InsecurityDr. Kabir Adamu, CEO of BSIL, attributes the worsening security situation to several factors:Socio-economic Issues: Rising cost of living and economic hardship have exacerbated social unrest.
Political Factors: Post-election grievances and sabotage efforts have intensified instability.
Environmental Challenges: Climate change and geopolitical issues in the Sahel region have contributed to the movement of herders and violent confrontations.
Dr. Adamu criticized the country’s ineffective security management system, citing the inability to address root causes of insecurity and the failure of counter-terrorism strategies.
He highlighted the need for robust implementation of existing policies such as the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (2016) and the National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (2017).
Urgent Recommendations
The report underscores the urgency of reforming Nigeria’s security framework to address drivers and triggers of violence.
It calls for:Strengthening the criminal justice system to restore public confidence.Improving socio-economic conditions to reduce vulnerability to crime.
Enhancing coordination among security agencies to combat non-state armed groups effectively.
The findings serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders to prioritize national security and address the systemic issues fueling the crisis.
