VIOLENCE LEAVES 1,258 DEAD ACROSS NIGERIA IN 41 DAYS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
• 14 soldiers, 10 police officers killed; 419 terrorists neutralised
• 130 die in road crashes, 37 in boat mishaps
• Insecurity, violence and disasters claim 1,091 lives
By Clifford Ndujihe
In the first 41 days of 2026, at least 1,258 people were killed across Nigeria in a wave of violence, accidents and other tragedies, averaging about 27 deaths daily.
Among the victims was 13-year-old Timothy Daniel, allegedly shot dead by a soldier in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, on New Year’s Day — one of 49 reported killings on January 1 alone.
Between January 1 and February 10, deaths linked to insecurity and violent crimes accounted for 1,091 fatalities. Auto crashes claimed 130 lives, boat accidents 37, fire incidents three, and domestic violence 10.
Security forces reportedly neutralised 419 terrorists within the period but also lost 14 soldiers and 10 police officers in the line of duty.
The North-Central emerged as the worst-hit region with 772 deaths, followed by the North-East (287) and North-West (193). The South recorded 114 deaths, while the Federal Capital Territory posted 16.
States with the highest fatalities included Kwara (276), Kogi (206), Niger (146), Borno (120) and Taraba (102).
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The Federal Government says it is intensifying coordinated military operations and intelligence-driven strategies to curb the violence. However, civil society groups and security experts are calling for urgent reforms, including state policing, improved intelligence gathering, better welfare for security personnel and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Comparative figures from previous years indicate a troubling pattern of sustained bloodshed, raising concerns that without structural reforms and decisive action, the casualty toll could worsen as the year progresses.
Beyond the statistics are grieving families, displaced communities and growing fears over national security, as Nigeria confronts yet another grim chapter of violence and instability.
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