No fewer than 578 Nigerians were massacred by armed bandits, killer herders and other criminal groups in the six North Central states between November 2024 and this month, according to findings by Saturday Sun.

The figure was arrived at after a careful study of media reports on deaths from multiple attacks perpetrated by bandits and herdsmen in the zone from November 2024 to April 24, 2025.

The breakdown of the figures showed that Benue State is the worst hit in the zone, with at least 244 fatalities, representing 42 per cent of the total deaths in the zone within the examined period.

Plateau State closely followed Benue State with 137 cases, representing 24 per cent of the total figure.

Nasarawa State also recorded 104 deaths, representing 18 per cent, while Kogi State is in the fourth position with 57 deaths, which represents 10 per cent of the total figure.

In the fifth and sixth positions are Niger and Kwara States respectively. Niger had 29 deaths, representing five per cent, and Kwara recorded seven deaths, which is one per cent of the total figure.

Saturday Sun gathered data on the deaths from media reports, as official organs of the government that were contacted for the statistics said they have not collated the data.

As gathered, there could have been unreported cases, which might even shoot up the figure.

At the moment, there are no official figures, either from the governments of the six states in the zone or the security agencies concerning the number of attacks by bandits and herdsmen in each of the states and the number of people that have been killed within the past six months.

Benue

Findings revealed that between November 1, 2024 and April 24, 2025, terrorist groups, mainly suspected armed herdsmen, carried out over 27 attacks on communities in some local government areas in Benue, including Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Otukpo, Guma, and Makurdi. They reportedly killed more than 244 persons within the period.

According to available records, in the month of November, four attacks were reported with 44 persons killed and several others injured.

On December 25, 2024, suspected herdsmen carried out a bloody attack and killed over 30 persons in Kwande, with thousands displaced.

It was also reported that while one attack was carried out in January 2025, claiming one life, four attacks were carried out in February, which killed 33 persons. Five attacks were recorded in March, claiming another 33 persons.

The victims included three hunters at Okpomaju village, Okete Ward, Otukpo LGA, 16 farmers in Kwande Local Government, whose bodies were purportedly thrown into River Katsina-Ala, as well as five persons massacred in Okpomaju community in Otukpo LGA. Eleven other persons were also killed in Katsina-Ala on March 9.

The three other cases in March occurred on the 18th when a policeman was killed in Buruku LGA, 19th when five persons were killed in Kwande LGA, as well as 31st when one person was killed in Asa II, Otukpo community.

In April 2025, from 3rd to 24th, herdsmen carried out over 10 attacks on Benue communities, killing 103 people in cold blood.

Plateau

In Plateau State, there was no confirmed attack in November 2024. But on December 23, 2024, 15 persons were killed in Ganawuri, Riyom Local Government Area.

Three cases were reported in March 2025. On the 26th of the month, two police officers were killed in a foiled kidnap case. On the 28th of the month, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) was killed in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The killing spree continued on the same March 28, when11 mourners were killed in Bokkos.

Three major cases were reported as at April 24. On April 2, 52 persons were killed in Bokkos, while on April 12, three persons, comprising a father and his two sons, were killed in Bassa. On April 14, 53 persons were also killed in Zike Kimakpa, Kwall District, Bassa Local Government Area.

Nasarawa

According to details provided from Nasarawa State, in November 2024, there was one attack in the state, which dispatched three persons to their early graves. There was no confirmed report of attack in December 2024 and January 2025 in the state.

But in February 2025, there was one attack, which claimed the lives of three soldiers in Katakpa Toto Local Government Area of the state. In March, one attack was recorded, with 20 persons killed by bandits in Nasarawa Local Government Area. The situation went from bad to worse in April 2025. As at 24th day of the month, 78 persons were killed in one coordinated attack carried out in four local government areas of Obi, Awe, Doma, and Keana.

Kogi

In Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, seven persons lost their lives in November 2024, while the casualty figures increased to 12 in December of the same year.

In January and February 2025, the numbers of people slain by herders and bandits were put at six and five respectively. The death figures increased in March to 15. It was 12 in April.

Niger

Information obtained from Niger State showed that seven persons were killed on November 5, 2024, and one student on November 11 in Gidan-Kwano community in Minna LGA. On December 7, 2024, one person was killed via Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted at a spot along Bassa-Unguwar Road.

In 2025, one person was reportedly killed on February 18th. On February 26, 19 farmers were likked in Karaga village, Bassa Ward, Shiroro LGA.

Kwara

Within the past six months, the only reported case of killings by bandits in Kwara State occurred on Sunday April 21, 2025. The attacks were perpetrated in Ilesha Baruba in Baruten LGA, and Kemanji community in Kalama LGA. Seven persons were killed in the affected communities, apart from those that were injured. (Saturday Sun)

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