Ahead of the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, a group of 84 local and international Civil Society Organisations says at least 4,416 persons were killed.

In contrast, 4,334 others were abducted in incidents of mass atrocities across the country, in the last year, the CSOs said.

The groups said the numbers did not account for the regular crimes like armed robbery and other forms of crime committed in the period, adding that the situation had reduced the citizens’ right to life and dignity guaranteed under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), to a mere inscription.

Addressing journalists at a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, to mark the 2024 National Day of Mourning, said the insecurity in the country had earned Nigeria a place as one of the most insecure countries in the world, ranking 144th out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index in 2024.

“Since the commemoration of the last National Day of Mourning #NDOM2023 on May 28th, 2023, and President Tinubu’s first year in office, our records show that at least 4416 people were killed and at least 4334 were abducted in incidents of mass atrocities across the country.

“These numbers do not account for the regular crimes of armed robbery and other forms of crimes within that range.

These incidents of violence have reduced the citizens’ right to life and dignity guaranteed under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) to a mere inscription.

“The frequency of these atrocities has kept Nigerians in a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty and is impacting social cohesion, the economy, public health, and education across the country,” the CSOs said.

The press conference was addressed by Lois Auta, Founder of Cedar Seed Foundation; Martins Obono, Executive Director of TAP Initiative; and Frank Tietie, the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, who said the frequency of the atrocities had kept Nigerians in a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty, and impacting social cohesion, the economy, public health, and education across the country.

They further stated that the Northern Central region had accounted for the highest number of fatalities, with at least 1600 lost, the North West came in second place with at least 1,136 fatalities, with Maradun Local Government, a community in Zamfara state, being the most hard-hit after enduring at least five separate incidents of terror in 2023, with at least 118 lives lost.

“While no region of the country has been spared in the past year, the North Central region has accounted for the highest number of fatalities from mass atrocities, with at least 1600 lives claimed in terror pillages, communal clashes, and herdsmen attacks.

“With at least 1,136 deaths, mostly from terror-pillage attacks(banditry), the Northwest came in second.

Particularly hard-hit were communities like Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara State, which endured at least five separate incidents of terror pillages in 2023 in a series of attacks that claimed at least 118 lives.

“At least 904 people were killed in the Northeast in the past year. Boko Haram/ISWAP activities still account for the highest number of atrocious killings in the Northeast, particularly in Borno State, with pockets of incidents in Yobe and Adamawa states.

“We also noted an upsurge in insurgent group clashes. For example, at least 82 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in an inter-insurgent group clash in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State,” the CSOs asserted.

The Southeast recorded the highest number of killings in the Southern part of the country with at least 344 killed, with most of the massacres occurring in Imo and Anambra states.

The groups also noted that the state security personnel also fell victim to violence, with at least 262 personnel killed on active duty, with the number including 110 military and 126 police officers.

They, however, warned President Bola Tinubu, the security service chiefs, and the representatives at the National Assembly that their continued failure to fulfill their constitutional duty would result in our passing a loud and consequential vote of no confidence in them.

The CSOs urged the government to fulfil its constitutional obligations under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and ensure the security of Nigerians’ lives and property.

A lead pastor and founder of an evangelical ministry based in Lagos State, identified simply as Akintunde, has been accused of assaulting his wife, Modupe, who now seeks a dissolution of their union. 

According to Modupe, her husband assaulted her after she accused him of infidelity at their home in the Onosa community, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of the state. 

The couple’s marriage, blessed with five children, started experiencing challenges when Modupe, on separate occasions, accused her husband of having a romantic affair with two church members, Punch reports.  

Modupe claimed that her husband slapped and beat her up for making the accusations and she was hospitalised after losing consciousness during one of the attacks.

She told the publication that her marriage had collapsed as her husband, who accused her of influencing church members to quit as a result of the adultery allegations, had sent her packing from their matrimonial home. As a result, she is seeking a divorce.

Modupe said, “What caused the fight was because I accused him of adultery with female church members. I discovered he had an illicit affair with two female church members but when I confronted him, he threatened and beat me up. 

“The first time that I got to know that he was having an illicit affair with a female church member was when I contracted an infection from him. I confronted him about the infection and he told me he was also experiencing similar symptoms. 

“We called our nurse and she treated us. The same nurse also treated a female church member for the same infection and informed me about it. That was how I got to know about their romantic affair.”

Modupe said after confronting her husband, their relationship worsened, adding that instead of doing things to improve the condition, the pastor allegedly got into another illicit romantic relationship with another female church member.  

She said, “This second incident of confronting my husband over alleged adultery with another female church member happened last year. The fiancé of the female church member got to know about the illicit affairs and he informed some members who stopped worshipping at our church. 

“My husband started saying I was using the adultery allegations to influence the church members to leave, whereas it was the fiancé of the church member he was romantically involved with. He became angry and ordered me to pack out. I disagreed because there was no place for me to go. 

“But for my safety, I was advised to give him space. I left with some loads and returned around December 2023 to spend the festive period with my children. When he realised I was at home, he locked me in one of the rooms for two hours, despite one of my children begging him.”

The midwife said she left the house and returned in January 2024, adding that sometime in April, she was at her matrimonial home when she took delivery of a lady’s child and her husband, who was bent on her leaving the house, allegedly attacked her till she fainted. 

She said, “He slapped me and pressed my neck till I fainted. I woke up with water all over my body. I also saw that people had gathered around me. He kept saying I had overstayed in the house and he wanted me to leave, whereas it was not only his money we used to build the property. I also contributed my money when we started building the property and the church. 

“I have left the house to treat myself. I spent a week in hospital and as I am speaking with you, I am still going to the hospital for treatment from home. It has not been easy eating because my neck is still hurting. It was our neighbours who called my family members, who came to take me to the hospital after I regained consciousness.”

Akintunde denied the allegations but said that efforts were on to divorce his wife. 

He said, “I didn’t attack her; she was the one who wanted to injure and kill me on that day and I have my evidence. She wanted to cut my private parts. She once told me that if my organ is not working for her, it won’t work for anybody again. 

“She reported the case at the Epe Division; she should sue me in court, I have my evidence. We went to the Epe Division and when we were asked to meet at the court on Monday, May 6, 2024, I went there but she and her family members didn’t come.” 

Regarding infidelity allegations with female church members, Akintunde said, “I am a pastor and I have a congregation and she used to bully everyone that she saw me with. I wanted to divorce her and she had already packed her load out of the house but she later returned her load.” 

Reacting to the allegation about contracting an infection from a nurse and infecting her, Akintunde said, “She is not well. Thank God the nurse is still alive. She is going beyond her capacity. If not for our children, I would have taken her to a criminal court. I want to divorce her and the case is already in court.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed to the publication that the case had been charged to court. 

He said, “The case was charged to court last Thursday. There was evidence he (Akintunde) assaulted his wife and it was on that basis that we charged the case to court.”