Intrigoration: Zamfara leads with 6,800 deaths, 5,400 kidnappings in six months – Report

An intelligence report released on Sunday by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL), a private security and intelligence company in Nigeria, has revealed that the state of Zamfara is a leading state in the country in terms of insecurity because 6,800 people lost their lives while 5,400 became victims of kidnapping in the first half of 2025.

The report entitled “Nigeria Security Report” which provides detailed data for a quarter of a year ended June 2025, describing the gloomy picture of the country’s security architecture.

“6,800 surprising deaths occurred in the first quarter of 2025.

“This is an increase of 13.67% compared to H2 2024 and a significant increase of 19.11% compared to H1 2024,” the report said.

The company links the development with the activities of “non-state armed groups, ideological rebels, and bandits, especially in the northwestern and northeast regions while marking the northern central region to worsen the insecurity.

“The northwestern and northeast regions continue to face the continuous security challenges of non-state armed groups, including ideological and bandits.

“The northern central region also shows an increase in severity in security events, especially in countries such as Niger, Benue, highlands, and Kwara, with common abduction, armed attacks, and raids on rural communities.

“In terms of incidence, the first six months of 2025 saw 4,672 cases reported nationally. This marked a decline of 1.08% compared to the second half of 2024 but an increase of 9.21% compared to the same period last year.

“The state of Zamfara recorded the highest number of deaths in 1,088. The state also recorded the highest number of people who were kidnapped in 1,755.

“Overall, 5,402 kidnappings occurred throughout Nigeria in the first half of 2025. This showed a decrease of 2.40% compared to H2 2024 but an increase of 30.43% was substantial compared to H1 2024.

“June 2025 witnessed an important de-escalation in the overall security event compared to May 2025. Incident: Decrease 48.04% was observed, down from 895 in May to 465 in June.

“Death: a decline of 14.27% was recorded, down from 1,296 in May to 1,111 in June. In the case of kidnapping, a substantial decline of 74.59% occurred, with 276 people kidnapped in June compared to 1,086 in May.

“The death of civilians remains high, contributing 72.37% (804 people) of the total death in June.

“Farmers-farmer conflict is a significant cause of death in the northern central region, while northwest experiences the highest number of kidnappings, with 72.10% of all kidnappers.

“In Q2 2025, death rose slightly to 3,499 from 3,301 in Q1, while kidnapping dropped. An increase of 5.66% was recorded in the case of death which increased from 3,301 in Q1 to 3,499 in Q2.

“In terms of kidnapping, a decrease in 11.45% is famous for being experienced, with 2,540 kidnappings in Q2 compared to 2,862 in Q1. North Central, North West, and North East all contributed significantly to these numbers.

“The security situation in Nigeria is considered stable in the short term, especially in the northern-northwestern region, where sophisticated attacks by bandits and terrorist groups increase.

“The interaction of communal violence, challenging terrain, the ability of actors to be increased threat (including foreign technical support), and continuous socio-economic complaints such as hunger and poverty worsen insecurity.

“Business and individuals are advised to monitor sustainable developments and adapt the appropriate security protocols,” the report added.