Mass massacre under Jagaban: 6,931 people killed under Tinubu in 10 months

A tragic turn of events unfolded on March 14 as 17 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi met their untimely end in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. The loss of lives stemmed from an ongoing land dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities.

Among the fallen were one lieutenant colonel, two majors, and a captain, all of whom tragically lost their lives during alleged botched peace talks in the community. The aftermath of this heinous act has resulted in a military siege on Okuama, marked by the destruction of houses and a reported death toll of no fewer than 50 individuals.

These 67 reported deaths from the Okuama crisis add to the grim toll of 6,931 lives lost across the country in the ten months since President Bola Tinubu assumed office last May.

Comparatively, during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first 10 months in office (May 2015 to March 2016), Nigeria witnessed the loss of 8,356 lives due to insecurity. In the corresponding period under former President Goodluck Jonathan (May 2011 to March 2012), 2,059 lives were lost to various acts of violence.

These figures, documented by the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), a project of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa programme, underscore the deepening security challenges facing the nation.

In January 2024 alone, troops reportedly eliminated 266 terrorists and bandits in various operations nationwide. The following month, February 2024, saw the neutralization of 974 terrorists by the armed forces.

Further adding to the tragedy, Chief lorbee Ihagh, Chairman of Benue Ethnic Leaders and President General of Mzough U Tiv worldwide, disclosed that herdsmen militia had claimed the lives of at least 147 individuals in attacks on Benue communities in recent months.

The scourge of violence is not confined to a specific region, as recurring attacks by bandits have ravaged Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and several states in the North-East and North-Central regions. Additionally, the South-East, South-South, and parts of the South-West have also experienced their share of violence perpetrated by unknown gunmen, criminal gangs, and armed herdsmen.

A grim comparison reveals the toll of lives lost during President Jonathan’s first 10 months, with a monthly breakdown as follows:

May 2011: 29
June 2011: 59
July 2011: 94
Aug 2011: 131
Sept 2011: 109
Oct 2011: 72
Nov 2011: 254
Dec 2011: 348
Jan 2012: 418
Feb 2012: 226
Mar 2012: 319
Total: 2,059
President Buhari’s first 10 months in office also saw a sobering loss of lives, with a monthly breakdown as follows:

May 2015: 767
June 2015: 808
July 2015: 1,299
Aug 2015: 790
Sept 2015: 514
Oct 2015: 826
Nov 2015: 510
Dec 2015: 809
Jan 2016: 484
Feb 2016: 1,076
Mar 2016: 468
Total: 8,356
The devastating toll under President Tinubu’s tenure continues to rise, with a monthly breakdown as follows:

May 2023: 587
June 2023: 690
July 2023: 620
Aug 2023: 682
Sept 2023: 527
Oct 2023: 621
Nov 2023: 869
Dec 2023: 837
Jan 2024: 666
Feb 2024: 1,374
Mar 2024: 432
Total: 6,931
Amidst the rising death toll, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has decried the wave of killings and kidnappings in the North, calling for decisive action to stem the tide. In a statement by their Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of Katsina Central, the NSF emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating violence.

The National Assembly has engaged in numerous discussions with security chiefs, and President Tinubu has issued directives to halt the alarming trend. The efficacy of these measures remains to be seen as Nigerians continue to grapple with the dire security situation, hoping for respite from the unrelenting wave of violence and loss of lives.