TIMELINE: How Boko Haram, Bandits are halting peace with the incessant killing of Nigerians

It’s not within the province of doubt that cases of insecurity in the country has been on an increase rate. We have all criminal elements in their various guise. For instance, Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen, IPOB/ESN or armed robbers have become normal since the beginning of the year 2021 as suspected criminal elements have killed thousands of Nigerians in a space of 4 months.

Many Nigerian, by the end of 2020 most especially when the nationwide lockdown was eased prayed never to experience those trying moment a gain.However, as they look forward to a more prosperous year, reports from DAILY POST onserves that the first quarter of this new years has been characterised with greater dangers, occassioned by insecurity and growing dissent in almost every part of the country.

The report recalls several news if deaths, killings, kidnappings, attacks leading to destruction of property in almost every part of the country. To many Nigerians that spoke with DAILY POST, it’s that the country is under siege, a siege perpetrated by Nigerians, many of whom are claiming to have one grievance or the other.

With the everyday alarming state of this pitiful act, DAILY POST observes that no particular region is spared. Experts believe that if this continues, it will be massive death harvest at the end of 2021. But leaders and politicians have continued to trade blames, a dangerous trend that many believe will further complicate the insecurity situation.
From a rough estimate, gleaned from Nigeria Security tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Affairs, the combined attacks of these armed groups and other lesser criminals, including cultists, have led to more than 5000 innocent deaths in the country. This figure does not, however, include casualties on the side of the insurgents, bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers but that of innocent Nigerians killed for being Nigerians and security agents, whose lives were cut short, mostly in the line of duty, the report reads.

Findings from DAILYPOST reveals below a computation of killings in Nigeria between January and April, 2021, with some days having multiple entries and almost no day being spared, an alarming data which many have said is bound to depress even the strong hearted.
The details of the reports from this platform is the below:

January 1: The year 2021 opened on a sad news as seven farmers were killed by bandits in Babban Rami in Mashegu LGA of Niger State. This was closely followed by the killing on January 2 of Quadri Okunola by unknown men at Macaulay/Odudu, along Igbogbo/ Bayeku road in Ikorodu, Lagos. On the same day one person was killed in Osogbo Osun State, when cult groups clashed during a carnival party at Isale-Osun area of the town.

Still on January 2, bandits killed a chief executive officer of a filling station and his two cousins in Idere, Ibarapa North LGA, Oyo State, while on the same day, another set of bandits invaded Kawaran Rafiu village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State and killed the chief Imam of the village, Danleeman Isah. The Sarkin Yaki of Godogodo, Yohanna Abu, was also killed. Not done, bandits also killed 19 persons in Giwa, Kaduna, ending the day with the killing of three persons in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

On January 3, No fewer than 19 people were killed in a two-day attack in Kaduna. Twelve of the victims were indigenes of Kaya, Gura LGA, while Boko Haram insurgents killed six soldiers and one civilian in Chibok, Borno. On the same day, bandits struck in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State, killing nine persons.
The orgy of violence and killing continued on.

January 4, when four people were shot while property worth millions of naira were destroyed in a bloody violence in some parts of Ibadan, Oyo State, while bandits operating in Kaduna added to their murderous haul; nine people, including three infants were killed when they attacked Zankoro community. In the Niger Delta, two passengers were killed and many others were declared missing following an attack on two commercial boats on Bonny Waterways, Rivers State.

January 5 witnessed the killing of one person in Toto, Nasarawa State, while pirates also killed two in Bonny, Rivers State.

On January 6, bandits killed a police man and kidnapped five others in attacks in Shiroro and Raji Local Governments in Niger State while four were killed in Chikun, Kaduna State, also by bandits. On this same day, Boko Haram insurgents killed commuters, whose number were estimated to be 10 in Nganzai, Borno State.
A Timeline of some Avoidable Deaths

January 7: Gunmen abducted a traveller and killed his driver along Ise/Isua/Akoko Highway in Ondo State.

January 7 Bandits attacked Katarma village in Chikun Local Government, Kaduna, killed four persons and kidnapped many women.

January 8: Gunmen attacked a police station and killed three police officers in Ezza South, Ebonyi.

January 8: Two passengers were killed in a pirate attack on two commercial boats around Dema Abbey community on Bonny waterways.

January 9: Gunmen killed three in Kauru, Kaduna.

January 9: 28 Boko Haram militants and 13 soldiers were killed during a clash in Gujba, Yobe.

January 10: Gunmen killed three mobile police officers in Ughelli North, Delta.

January 10: Gunmen killed two in Riyom, Plateau.

January 10: Gunmen opened fire on a couple, killing the lady in the process at Ekuigbo, Ethiope, Delta State.

January 11: Five soldiers and six Boko Haram militants were killed during a clash in Damboa, Borno.

January 11: Gunmen killed a councillorship candidate and kidnapped two others in Oshimili South, Delta.

January 11: A Boko Haram member on suicide mission killed himself and six Nigerian soldiers in Damboa, Borno.

January 11: Inter-communal clash between the people of Edondon and Ohumuruket in Obubra LGA, Cross River claimed no fewer than four lives.

January 11: Two people were feared dead, while three others were missing after suspected pirates attacked two passenger boats along the coastal waters of Aru-Gbanaama and Polokiri in Bonny LGA of Rivers State.

January 12: Gunmen killed two in Kauru, Kaduna.

January 12: Suspected land grabbers killed four in Ikorodu, Lagos.

January 12: Two villagers were killed in an ambush by gunmen between Bakin Kogi and Narido village in Kauru LGA of Kaduna State
January 10-January 12: Cult clashes resulted in 14 deaths in Ikorodu, Lagos.

January 12: At least five persons were reportedly shot dead in a renewed clash between the people of Emede and Igbide clans in Isoko South LGA, Delta.

January 12: Mr. Obiezu, the younger brother to Imo State Accountant General, Valentine Obiezu, was killed after a failed attempt to kidnap him at his village, Akatta, Oru East LGA.

January 12: The remains of a farmer, Wole Agbola, who was abducted, was discovered in the bush in Aba-Odo, Oyo State a few kilometres from where he was abducted after his family paid N2million ransom.

January 13: Bandits killed two in Igabi, Kaduna.

January 13: Suspected herders killed two at Iniongwu village in Guma LGA, Benue State.

January 13: Robbers shot and killed Pastor Kelvin Orumor, the General Overseer of Kingdom Advancement Christian Centre, at Edjeba area of Warri, Delta State.

January 14: Bandits killed two farmers at Chikaji Village in Igabi LGA, Kaduna.

January 14: Boko Haram landmines killed five soldiers in Chibok, Borno.

January 15: Communal violence led to two deaths in Ibarapa North, Oyo.

January 15: Bandits killed five police officers and kidnapped thirteen others in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna.

Additional Information/data courtesy Nigeria Security Tracker