236 Nigerians killed in three months
No fewer than 236 Nigerians have lost their lives to several attacks in some parts of the country in the last three months.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that the attacks occurred in 13 states between December 9, 2022 and March 9, 2023.
While Kaduna State topped the list with 72 killings, Zamfara State had 64 and Borno State, 29.
Others are Anambra, 24; Benue, 16; Niger, seven; Delta, six; Abia, four; Imo, three; Enugu, three; Ebonyi, three; Ogun, three; and Lagos, two.
Our correspondent gathered that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, priests, politicians and other civilians were among those killed during the attacks masterminded by Boko Haram, bandits and herdsmen in the North-East as well as gunmen and suspected cultists in the South-East.
The latest of such attacks is the killing of 29 fishermen by Boko Haram fighters on Wednesday at Mukdolo village in Borno State while nine others were “seriously” injured.
On December 9, gunmen who were enforcing the sit-at-home order in Imo State declared by one Simeon Ekpa, killed a policeman, Prince Iheme.
Barely two days after, gunmen who were also enforcing the sit-at-home order in Enugu State reportedly killed two people, and also set a police vehicle ablaze.
Again, gunmen unleashed their terror when they invaded the house of the Labour Party candidate for Onuimo Local Government Area Constituency in Imo State, Christopher Elehu, killed him and set his house ablaze on December 16.
In Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Friday, December 16, suspected herders invaded Adaka community, killing three people. Some of the locals believed that the attack was a reprisal for the killing of some cows that destroyed their farmland.
On Sunday, December 18, no fewer than 64 persons were reportedly killed in an airstrike by the Nigerian military in Mutumji Community, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
On the same day, terrorists killed 40 people in an attack on Malagum 1 and Sokwong communities in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Meanwhile, a community clash between two rival youth groups in Ekpan community, in the Uvwie Local Government Area of the Delta State on the eve of Christmas claimed two person’s lives.
This happened in less than three weeks that the traditional ruler of Asamokwu community of the State, Obi Odumodu, was beheaded in a community crisis. Punch
