Over 150,000 Nigerians Killed in 15 Years: A Comparative Review of Killings Under Jonathan, Buhari, and Tinubu

Goodluck Jonathan, right  Muhammadu Buhari, center Bola Tinubu, left

By News House Investigative Desk

As insecurity continues to cast a long shadow over Nigeria, an investigative review by News House reveals that over 150,000 lives have been lost to violence, insurgency, and unrest under the successive leaderships of Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu between 2010 and 2025.

This grim toll underscores a nation where violent deaths—whether from insurgents, herdsmen, communal clashes, or even state actors—have become tragically routine.

Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015): The Boko Haram Surge

During President Jonathan’s tenure, Nigeria saw a dramatic rise in deaths due to the escalation of Boko Haram insurgency and communal violence.

• Boko Haram alone claimed over 11,000 lives in 2014, with notable attacks such as:

  • The Baga massacre (2015): ~2,000 killed

  • Buni Yadi school massacre (2014): 59 boys murdered

  • Repeated bombings in Abuja, Jos, and Maiduguri

• Post-election violence in 2011 led to hundreds of deaths in Northern Nigeria

• Herdsmen–farmer conflicts claimed at least 756 lives in states like Benue and Plateau

• Amnesty International reported 950 deaths in military detention between January and June 2013

🔹 Estimated Total Deaths (2010–2015): Over 20,000

Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023): Insecurity Redefined

Despite campaigning on a strong security platform, Buhari's administration presided over an alarming spike in killings, with data from multiple sources pointing to a death toll between 53,000 and 63,000+.

• 63,111 deaths recorded by the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST)

• Most violent years:

  • 2020: 9,694 deaths

  • 2021: 10,575 deaths

• Key drivers included:

  • Banditry in the North-West

  • Boko Haram resurgence in the North-East

  • Farmer–herder clashes in the Middle Belt

  • ISWAP expansion and kidnappings

• State-by-state data showed widespread impact: Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara, Benue, Niger, and Plateau were among the worst hit

🔹 Estimated Total Deaths (2015–2023): 63,000+

Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023–2025): New Government, Same Old Bloodshed

Just over a year into President Tinubu’s tenure, the human toll remains staggering.

• Over 10,000 people killed in the first 24 months, according to Amnesty International

• ACLED reports 7,472 deaths and 12,584 abductions (May 2023–May 2025)

• Benue and Plateau States remain hotspots, with at least 672 villages sacked

• High-profile attacks include:

  • Guma massacre, June 2025: Over 100 killed

  • Konduga bombing, June 2025: At least 12 fatalities

  • Edo mob killings, March 2025: 16 lynched

Despite the government's claims of economic progress, public confidence in its ability to curb violence is eroding rapidly.

Estimated Total Deaths (May 2023–June 2025): 10,000–13,000

A Nation in Crisis: What the Numbers Reveal

Voices of the People

The human cost of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is felt across every village and urban center. Civil society groups are calling for urgent reforms, including decentralizing policing, revamping intelligence agencies, and prosecuting corruption in the security sector.

A youth activist from Benue remarked, “It’s not just about counting the dead anymore. It’s about who’s next if nothing changes.”

Conclusion

As Nigeria reflects on 15 years of democracy under three different presidents, one reality remains constant: thousands continue to die needlessly each year. Whether under a former university lecturer, an ex-military general, or a veteran political strategist, the Nigerian people have paid the ultimate price for weak security architecture and political inaction.

Until words are matched with real reforms, the statistics will only rise—and history will judge harshly.

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