486 People Killed Across Nigeria In First Three Weeks Of 2022

At least 486 people were killed in the first three weeks of 2022 by non-state actors across Nigeria, an average of 22 people a day, a Premium Times compilation of media reports shows.

Over 80 per cent of the killings were carried out by terror groups that have terrorised the North-west and North-central zones while about 50 per cent of the total killings occurred in Niger State, North-central Nigeria.

Last week, the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, announced that at least 220 people were killed in his state between January 1 and 17. Most of the killings in the state were unreported until the governor’s statement, an indication that the media miss some of the gruesome acts of terror groups in the country.

Apart from Niger State, other states that witnessed large scale killings in the first three weeks of 2022 were Zamfara, Plateau and Kebbi. The victims were mostly unarmed civilians.

Premium Times compiled the incidents from media reports. Thus, unreported cases are not included.

– Premium Times