The report states that from January 2021 to December 2023, a staggering 29,828 individuals lost their lives and 15,430 were taken captive nationwide. Additionally, a total of 14,145 attacks occurred across 736 local government areas out of 774 LGs in the country as per the 2023 Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence company.
The report further disclosed that in 2021, there were 8,372 fatalities and 5,031 abductions. In 2022, the numbers rose to 11,714 deaths and 6,319 kidnappings. Finally, in 2023, 9,742 people were killed and 4,080 were abducted, highlighting the grim trend over the years.
In a candid interview, Dr Kabir Adamu, the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, criticized the current security architecture of Nigeria, emphasizing its failure to achieve operational, financial, and democratic accountability. He lamented the lack of consequences within the security sector and its failure to deliver value for the substantial budget allocation. Dr Adamu underscored the urgent need for the Federal Government to bolster institutional capacity within the existing architecture and highlighted the failure to convene the National Security Council meeting, stressing the constitutional provisions that have been overlooked.
The concerning data underscores the pressing need for comprehensive and accountable security measures to safeguard the populace.