Nigeria recorded 12,954 deaths from violent incidents in 2025, up from 12,162 in 2024, according to the 15th Report on Violence in Nigeria by Nigeria Watch.
The report said 222,137 people were killed in 46,182 violent incidents across all 36 states and the FCT between 2006 and 2025. Insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes and security operations remained the main causes of violence.
Crime-related violence caused 47 per cent of deaths in 2025, while political and religious violence made up 27 per cent. Road accidents accounted for 13 per cent.
Borno recorded the highest death toll with 2,221 fatalities, followed by Niger, Zamfara, Benue and Katsina. Ekiti was ranked the safest state with 23 deaths.
About 81 per cent of violent deaths happened in Northern Nigeria.
Deaths linked to banditry jumped to 3,974 from 1,452 in 2024, with Zamfara worst hit. Kidnapping deaths also rose sharply to 747 from 425, mainly in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto.
Farmers-herders clashes killed 1,015 people, with Benue recording the highest toll. In Yelwata, attacks reportedly killed over 200 people between June 8 and 14, 2025.
Boko Haram attacks and military operations claimed 2,454 lives, mostly in Borno.
The report also said criminal gangs were linked to 6,166 deaths, while security forces were involved in incidents that claimed 5,438 lives.
