A recent news report by Vanguard highlights the tragic events that unfolded in Kubwat and Fungzai villages in Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. Over the course of two nights between May 15 and 16, these villages turned into killing fields as terrorists wreaked havoc, setting houses and food supplies ablaze, and mercilessly taking the lives of at least 100 people, mostly women and children.
As of now, 50 bodies have been discovered, but the death toll is expected to rise as more people flee from the affected communities to seek refuge in Mangu town and beyond. This horrifying incident is part of a larger trend in the Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency, where 200 individuals have lost their lives in the past four months alone.
These 100 lives lost in Mangu contribute to a staggering total of 63,111 deaths that have occurred since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29, 2015. These figures come from the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), a project by the Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa program that documents and maps violence in Nigeria driven by political, economic, or social grievances. The causes of these deaths range from terrorism, banditry, and clashes between herders and farmers to communal crises, cult clashes, and extrajudicial killings.
It’s important to note that the 63,111 death toll is likely an underestimate, as many cases go unreported or underreported. Therefore, the NST’s statistics should be seen as indicative rather than definitive. Since the NST began tracking data in May 2011, during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, a shocking total of 98,083 Nigerians have lost their lives.
The report also provides a breakdown of killings in each year since President Buhari took office. The year 2021 witnessed the highest number of fatalities, with 10,575 lives lost, while 2017 recorded the lowest number of killings at 4,618. However, there has been a slight decline in the death toll since 2022, when 9,079 deaths were reported.
The article concludes with a timeline of killings that occurred in May 2023, shedding light on the alarming frequency of violence in various regions of Nigeria. The events listed include abductions, clashes, and killings perpetrated by different groups, including bandits, herders, gunmen, and militants.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis of violence and loss of life in Nigeria, with the hope that increased awareness will contribute to efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability in the country.