Northwest Nigeria: A Massive Crime Scene, Over 20,000 Lives Lost, Bishop Kukah Calls for Urgent Action

By Emmanuel Kwada

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has sounded the alarm on the escalating violence plaguing Northwest Nigeria, urging a unified societal response to a crisis that has claimed over 20,000 lives across 4,500 recorded incidents.

Credit:Global Rights Nigeria on X

Speaking at the Northwest Regional Conference on Women, Peace, and Security held in Sokoto on Sunday, Kukah painted a grim picture of the region, labeling it a “massive crime scene” and spotlighting data that reveals the scale of its insecurity.

The conference, themed “Sustaining Inclusive Peace-building Processes in Northwest Nigeria,” brought together stakeholders including Global Rights, the UK Aid Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Kukah Centre, and the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative.

Kukah’s keynote address leaned heavily on stark statistics: over 20,000 deaths linked to 4,500 violent events, a figure that underscores the relentless toll of banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes in the region.

76% of all abductions in Northern Nigeria have occurred in the Northwest

Even more striking, he revealed that 76% of all abductions in Northern Nigeria have occurred in the Northwest, cementing its status as the epicenter of this pervasive security threat.

“The indicators are not regular at all,” Kukah remarked, emphasizing the erratic yet devastating frequency of attacks. He argued that the crisis, which has festered for over a decade, defies resolution through military might or political maneuvering alone.

Traditional rulers attend Day 2 of the conference. (Credit: Global Rights Nigeria)

“The violence visited on the people of the Northwest will not be resolved by military force or through political means alone,” he said, advocating for a collective approach to tackle systemic drivers of the unrest.

The data paints a dire portrait: if averaged across 10 years, the 4,500 incidents translate to roughly 450 attacks annually—or more than one per day—claiming approximately 2,000 lives each year.

This relentless pace of violence has displaced communities, crippled livelihoods, and eroded trust in governance.

Our collective survival would have to depend on how willing we are to work and stand together

Kukah’s call for resilience and solidarity—“Our collective survival would have to depend on how willing we are to work and stand together”—resonates as a plea to reverse these trends through unified action.

Beyond the numbers, Kukah spotlighted the human dimension, particularly the role of women in peace-building. “There is no civilization without a significant role and place for women in society,” he asserted, decrying cultural practices that sideline women and noting their resurgence under religious pretexts.

With women and children often bearing the brunt of abductions—76% of Northern Nigeria’s cases concentrated in the Northwest—his emphasis on inclusivity carries added weight.

The conference backdrop amplifies the urgency. Abiodun Baiyewu, Executive Director of Global Rights, noted in her address that the Northwest’s security crisis has worsened over the past decade, with data from various reports corroborating a steady rise in incidents since the early 2010s.

This resilience doesn’t necessarily stop people from coming in, but it gives us inner strength

The region’s seven states—Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Jigawa—have seen violence evolve from localized clashes to organized banditry and mass kidnappings, with 2024 alone witnessing hundreds of documented attacks.

Bishop Kukah, a long-standing voice for justice in Nigeria, framed his data-driven appeal as a call to action for all sectors: government, civil society, religious leaders, and citizens.

“This resilience doesn’t necessarily stop people from coming in, but it gives us inner strength,” he concluded, suggesting that while the violence may persist, a collective stand could mitigate its impact.

As Northwest Nigeria confronts a crisis quantified by thousands of lives lost and incidents recorded, Kukah’s plea underscores a critical juncture. With 20,000 deaths, 4,500 attacks, and 76% of abductions as the region’s grim benchmarks, the conference aims to catalyze a shift from statistics to solutions, galvanizing efforts for lasting peace.

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