Picture used to illustrate Bandits

President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration is “winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes,” despite ongoing killings and kidnappings across Nigeria.

The president made the remarks in a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

Tinubu’s position

Mr Tinubu praised the efforts of the military and other security agencies, noting that “peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in the North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes.”

However, the reality for many Nigerians is far different. Reports of violent attacks, abductions, and killings continue to dominate headlines across the country.

Security data paints a grim picture

An analysis by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows that between 29 May 2023 and 19 May 2025:

• 7,472 people were killed
• 12,584 were abducted

The data, focused on deaths and abductions linked to terror groups, highlights that insecurity remains a major challenge despite government claims of progress.

While the military has recorded some achievements, including the killing of over 15,000 insurgents in the North-East, the arrest of Ansaru leaders, and the neutralization of several bandit kingpins, the continued waves of violence cast doubt on the scale of the claimed victories.

Waves of violence across regions

• North-East (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe)
  Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have resurged, leading to new attacks, killings, and redisplacement of resettled communities. Since January 2025, insurgents have killed more than 130 people in Borno alone.
• North-Central (Niger, Kwara, Benue, Plateau)
  • In Niger State, terrorists have laid siege to rural communities, kidnapping dozens, including a former SUBEB chairperson.
  • In Kwara, at least 15 vigilantes were killed in Oke-Ode, while villages in Patigi LGA faced deadly raids, leaving a pregnant woman and nine others dead.
  • In Benue, large-scale massacres like the Yelwata attack (200+ killed) still haunt communities, while ambushes on security operatives persist.
  • In Plateau, six villagers were killed and two abducted in Bokkos on 14 September.
• South-East
  Amnesty International reported at least 1,844 killings between January 2021 and June 2023, and PREMIUM TIMES findings show violence continues in remote areas.
• South-South & South-West
  • The South-South battles waterway abductions and militancy.
  • The South-West grapples with cultism and violent crimes.

The long battle with insecurity

Nigeria’s insecurity crisis has lingered for decades, with the North-East insurgency alone causing more than 40,000 deaths and displacing around two million people in 15 years.