No fewer than 780 people were killed and 47 others kidnapped across Nigeria in June 2025 alone, a new report by HumAngle Tracker has revealed.
The report, based on verified data from incidents across the six geopolitical zones, shows that the North-central region recorded the highest number of killings with 402 fatalities, more than half of the overall total for the month in the country.
According to the report, the North-west followed with 236 killings, while the North-east recorded 69 deaths. It added that the South-east had 44, the South-west had 29, and South-south had the least killings of 9 people.
The report added that 173 violent incidents were recorded in June, ranging from killings and kidnappings to communal clashes, terrorist attacks, and armed banditry. It noted that Benue State was the epicentre of violence, recording the highest number of incidents and fatalities.
“Civilians continue to bear the brunt of Nigeria’s security failures,” the report noted. “The widespread nature of these attacks — many occurring in remote and poorly policed communities — reflects the inability of state and federal authorities to contain the violence.”
Deadly Pattern
The tracker noted that 450 deaths in 77 incidents came from attacks on civilians, including targeted killings and indiscriminate violence. Another 102 deaths resulted from clashes between armed groups, while 42 deaths were attributed to explosions and remote violence. The remaining fatalities were linked to isolated riots and strategic developments.
Notably, only Cross River State recorded no violent incident throughout the month.
Surge in Kidnappings
The report disclosed that kidnapping incidents were recorded in 14 cases across 11 states, with a total of 47 persons abducted in Benue (12), Borno (10), and Niger (10) among the most affected.
Other states affected include Kwara, Anambra, Imo, Plateau, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, and Kogi.
Over 2,000 Killed in Three Months
The June report also forms part of HumAngle’s broader Q2 Conflict Tracker, which shows that 2,005 people were killed and 421 kidnapped across 578 violent incidents between April and June 2025.
The North-central zone remained the most violent region with 826 deaths from 162 incidents, followed by the North-west with 497 deaths, and the North-east with 439. The South-west (108 deaths), South-east (79), and South-south (56) followed.
The data indicates a 41.2 per cent increase in fatalities compared to the previous quarter, underlining an alarming escalation in conflict-related deaths.
Mass Abductions, Impunity Persist
According to the report, Nigeria witnessed 55 abduction incidents in Q2, with mass kidnappings in several states worsening the humanitarian crisis. Many of the kidnapped victims remain unaccounted for.
Despite repeated promises from federal and state authorities, the violence continues unabated, with civilians — particularly in rural communities — increasingly left without protection.
“Each month, the data reaffirms that insecurity is not only persistent but evolving in scale and tactics,” the report noted. “The impunity enjoyed by non-state actors fuels repeated cycles of violence.”
The data reveals the need for more robust government action, improved community policing, and justice for victims. Security analysts have also called for urgent reforms in intelligence coordination, response time, and resource deployment, especially in the hardest-hit areas.
