801 lives were prematurely cut short, and over 169 were kidnapped in different violent attacks across Nigeria in October.

According to Eons Intelligence Incidents by Regions for October, which tracks monthly kidnapping and violent killings incidents across the country, the figure represents a decline of 10% in kidnapping, but with a 32% rise in the number of deaths from 601 to 801 in comparison to the prior month of September.

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The monthly analysis uses viable publications and investigative journalism to collate its statistics and analyse its findings to reveal identified states in each geo-political zone, which from statistical outlook seem to have improved, regressed or remain relatively calm during the reviewing period. 

While this represents neither complete success nor the failure of the political leaders responsible for managing security in the affected states, its sole intent is to spur more actions where regression is observed and sustainability of efforts where progression is indicated. The resultant verdict considered several factors, among which were data as reflected by the killing incidents, kidnapping and other security factors militating against governance and service delivery to the people of the state.

October report shows that Niger, Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara and the Sokoto States maintained the lead as states with the worst security challenges. Though, with the secessionist movement, arrest and detention of the proscribed leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, some South-Eastern regions have joined the security-torn areas by witnessing a spike in shedding blood capable of surpassing incidents recorded in the Northern region if not curbed early. Imo and Anambra states are notable in this regard, ranking 6th and 8th, respectively for states in the danger zone for the month of October.

The report categorized all the 36 states under four major categories as follows:

Most relatively peaceful: Gombe and Jigawa took the lead. Other states within this category include Kano, Enugu, Adamawa, Nasarawa.

Relatively safe states within the security atmosphere follow immediately, with Kebbi, Cross River and Oyo ranking tops. Bayelsa, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, and Osun enjoyed a serene environment in the month of October. The remaining states under this category are Benue, Kogi, Rivers, Abia and Bauchi.

The third category according to the analysis was termed states whose security situations were within control. Nine states in this category are FCT, Kwara, Lagos, Edo, Plateau, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Ebonyi.

The final category is the “Danger zone”. Representing every inch of its classification both in death, trauma and incidents, it was led by Niger and Borno States. Others include Zamfara, Sokoto, Imo, Yobe, Anambra, Katsina and Delta.

Despite the continuous air interdiction and ground strikes on the masterminds of these atrocities, the spike in insecurity continues to abide, though in a different dimension.

However, Intelligence strategy on identifying and managing kidnapping incidents seems to yield results. The reviewing period witnessed a 10% drop in kidnapping incidents from 185 kidnapped victims in September to 165 victims in October.

But, contrary to speculations that the Federal Capital Territory is the safest place, findings for the period under review indicated that Jigawa and Gombe came first as the most relatively peaceful states. Abuja was discovered from the analysis to fall into the category of places that were neither relatively peaceful nor had extreme cases, but rather whose security threats were within manageable control.

As the spike in security challenges continue to generate heightened tension across States, perceptions are rife that the spike may not be unconnected with delay in proscribing bandits as terrorists.

As these insurgents reinforce strategies, reshuffle cabinets and even enlist the support of several hundreds of mercenaries from neighbouring countries like Libya, calls for the declaration of bandits as terrorists have continued to gain daily momentum across the board. Notable among some of their latest strategies include the purchase of military uniforms as camouflage, the bombing of rail tracks and their massive exodus from the heat of air interdictions and ground strikes to seemingly unprepared states.

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As these bandits continue to flee from the North-West region due to the heat of daily bombardments by troops, Intelligence sources state that they may employ the element of surprise attacks to their advantage to perpetrate indescribable mayhem on their new locations. Therefore, it is not surprising that their latest locations have included increased attacks on the Abuja-Keffi axis which falls within their exit route. 

Through its monthly publication of the Incidents by Regions, Eons Intelligence assists States to keep track of their security performance to know periods of improvement or retrogression.

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