Insurgents, Bandits Kill Over 2,200 Across Nigeria H1 2025

Nigeria experienced a sharp increase in fatalities caused by insurgents and bandits in the first half of 2025, with at least 2,266 people killed, surpassing the total deaths for all of 2024. The violence was widespread, with particularly severe attacks in Benue State's Yelewata and Dauda communities, where around 200 people were killed in coordinated assaults. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported a decline in abductions, with 857 people kidnapped in the first six months of 2025 compared to 1,461 during the same period the previous year. Attacks on security forces were also noted, including the deaths of over 17 soldiers in Kaduna and Niger states and more than 40 Civilian Joint Task Force members in Zamfara state. NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to address the human toll and ongoing insecurity, as Nigeria's military remains stretched thin fighting multiple insurgencies and other violent groups across different regions. Katsina State's governor highlighted that most bandits terrorizing the area are local residents, underscoring the complexity of the security challenges.