Nigeria recorded 12,954 deaths from violent incidents in 2025, marking an increase from the 12,162 fatalities documented in 2024, according to the 15th Report on Violence in Nigeria released by Nigeria Watch.
The report revealed that a total of 222,137 people have been killed in 46,182 violent incidents across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2006 and 2025.
The report, compiled by Dr. Vitus Nwankwo Ukoji with support from Dr. Abiola Victoria Ayodokun of Nigeria Watch, identified insurgency, rural banditry, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes and counter-operations by security agencies as the leading drivers of violence across the country in 2025.
According to the executive summary, crime-related violence remained the leading cause of deaths in the country, accounting for 47 per cent of all fatalities in 2025, while violence linked to political and religious issues contributed 27 per cent. Road accidents accounted for 13 per cent of the fatalities recorded during the year.
The report showed that Borno State recorded the highest number of deaths in 2025 with 2,221 fatalities, followed by Niger State with 1,438 deaths, Zamfara with 1,426, Benue with 811 and Katsina with 731.
By contrast, Ekiti State emerged as the most peaceful state with only 23 deaths recorded during the year, followed by Bayelsa with 44, Akwa Ibom with 50, Cross River with 62 and Abia with 71 fatalities.
Nigeria Watch further disclosed that about 81 per cent of all violent deaths recorded in 2025 occurred in Northern Nigeria, leaving the South with 19 per cent of the fatalities.
The report highlighted a sharp escalation in rural banditry, with deaths linked to bandit attacks and counter-operations rising to 3,974 in 2025 from 1,452 in 2024.
Zamfara State recorded the highest number of deaths from rural banditry, followed by Katsina, Niger, Kebbi and Plateau states.
The report also noted that the number of states affected by rural banditry increased from nine in 2024 to 16 in 2025, with Kwara State witnessing a major upsurge in attacks, particularly in Edu, Ekiti, Moro, Ifelodun and Pategi local government areas.
One of the incidents cited involved the killing of three worshippers and the abduction of 30 others from a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, on November 18, 2025. The victims were reportedly released after five days in captivity.
Kidnapping-related fatalities also increased significantly from 425 in 2024 to 747 in 2025, with Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto recording the highest death tolls.
The report stated that the pattern of kidnappings in some northern states appeared to be shifting from ransom-driven abductions to organised raids and violent racketeering. Civilians accounted for 57 per cent of kidnapping victims, while abductors represented 26 per cent of those killed.
Violence arising from farmers-herders clashes equally worsened during the year, with fatalities rising to 1,015 from 567 in 2024.
Benue State recorded the highest number of deaths from pastoral conflicts, followed by Plateau and Kebbi states.
In Benue, Guma Local Government Area accounted for 39 per cent of the fatalities linked to farmers-herders clashes, while Yelwata community witnessed attacks that reportedly killed over 200 people between June 8 and 14, 2025.
The report further showed that Boko Haram insurgency and military counter-operations claimed 2,454 lives in 2025.
Borno State remained the epicentre of insurgency-related violence, accounting for 2,197 deaths, while Adamawa and Yobe recorded 118 and 21 fatalities respectively.
According to the report, insurgent attacks involved suicide bombings, raids on military formations, attacks on schools and churches as well as the use of landmines.
Nigeria Watch also identified criminal gangs and government security forces as the two biggest protagonists of lethal violence in Nigeria in 2025. Criminal gangs were linked to incidents that resulted in 6,166 deaths, while government security forces were involved in incidents that claimed 5,438 lives.
The report equally drew attention to the growing activities of Mahmuda, a splinter faction linked to Boko Haram and reportedly affiliated with Ansaru, which expanded operations into Kwara and Niger states through the Kainji Lake National Park.
On road accidents, the report stated that Nigeria recorded 1,614 deaths in 2025, a slight drop from the 1,672 fatalities documented in 2024.
Niger State recorded the highest number of road accident deaths, largely driven by tanker explosions, followed by Ogun and Kano states.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on January 18, 2025, when about 98 people died while scooping fuel from a fallen petrol tanker at Diko Junction in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
The report also documented 256 deaths from ethno-communal violence across 21 states and the FCT in 2025. Taraba State recorded the highest fatalities, followed by Ebonyi and Edo states.
Land disputes accounted for about 80 per cent of communal violence incidents recorded during the year.
On the overall security ranking, Nigeria Watch identified Borno as the most dangerous state in the country in 2025, with 28.3 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Zamfara, Niger, Plateau and Benue states.
Ekiti State was ranked the safest state in the country with 0.5 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants.
