TIMELINE: 363 People Killed, 101 Others Abducted Across Nigeria in March

At least 363 Nigerians were killed and 101 kidnapped in various incidents across the country in March, according to HumAngle Tracker. The data provides insights into key issues in Nigeria, including conflict and security trends, humanitarian crises, and governance and accountability.

It also shows that no fewer than 1,420 people were killed and 537 others kidnapped in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to statistics from media reports. 

Timeline

Mar. 1: As 12 persons were burnt to death in an accident along the Benin-Auchi road, Edo State, a 50-year-old businessman, Nuru Isah, was arrested in Bauchi for beating his 24-year-old wife, Wasila Abdullahi, to death during a domestic dispute over Ramadan meal preparations.

Also, a violent clash between commercial motorcyclists and police officers in Jos North, Plateau State, resulted in the death of a policeman.

Mar. 2: In Abuja, a police officer, Modestus Ojiebe, attached to the Kwara State Police Command, was abducted along Kubwa Expressway, and another four individuals were kidnapped in Katsina on the same day. Terrorists also abducted the Dean, Faculty of Engineering of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NUAB) and other passengers near Kamuya village, along Damaturu-Biu road, Yobe State.

Similarly, kidnappers abducted a Catholic Priest, Rev. Philip Ekeli, and a Seminarian, Peter Andrew,  in Edo state. The police said one of the kidnappers was killed, while four others were arrested during the rescue operation. In Ogun, a teenager, Olamide Phillips, was arrested for stabbing his friend to death during a fight on Obalende Street in the Isara area of the state.

In addition, a man identified as John Gwatana was hacked to death over a water pond at Riwaza community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mar. 3: Kidnappers killed David Shikfu Parradang, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Abuja. In Ogun State, 16 passengers were reportedly burnt to death, while three others sustained injuries in a road crash. 

Also, two persons lost their lives in an explosion that occurred at the Orita Challenge outlet of Gabster Mega Petrol Station in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also confirmed the death of four people in a lone accident involving an articulated vehicle in Kogi. 

Similarly, 12 people were kidnapped in various communities in Borno.

Mar. 4: In Kaduna, Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu was kidnapped and later found dead in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of the State. Meanwhile, seven people lost their lives in a fuel tanker explosion in Niger State.

An accident along the Idemili River near the Second Niger Bridge resulted in four fatalities on Anambra.

Mar. 5: Two bodies were recovered from the rubble of a two-storey building that collapsed in the Lekki area of Lagos. Also, two operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State were arrested for killing a 19-year-old woman in Jaba.

In another tragic incident, 12 operatives of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards and local vigilantes were killed in a clash with terrorists at Adabka village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the state. Two husbands also went berserk, stabbing their wives to death in Ogun State.

In Kaduna, kidnappers abducted seven persons, including women and children, from Anchuna village, Ikulu chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

Mar. 6: Police arrested a welder, Oladokun Johnson; a truck driver, Azeez Salami; and a truck owner, Olaleye Kamaldeen, over the electrocution of a 23-year-old apprentice, Jonathan Emmanuel, at a welding workshop in the Asimolowo area of Ifo.

In addition, a terrorist kingpin was eliminated in an operation by a combined team of security forces and vigilantes in Kebbi State. Also, gunmen killed a young lady and abducted three others at Agyaragu in Obi area of Nasarawa. In Ondo, 50-year-old Olanrewaju Oyeleye and his farm manager at Oba-Ile, were abducted near Akure Airport.

Mar. 7: Kidnappers abducted Akari Eloghonan Loveday, the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Also, farmer-herder attacks in Imande Gberihwa and Dikpo in Shitile Kpav, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State led to the death of 20.

Also, a commercial motorcyclist in the Ikwuano area of Abia State, Okezie Onyendu died from injuries he sustained after some unknown persons attacked him at Amawom village.

Mar. 8: Terrorists attacked a family in Zakirai Village, Gabasawa Local Government Area (LGA), Kano State, abducting a 20-year-old man, amputating his brother’s finger, and robbing the household. Also, terrorists killed the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Kwara State.

Similarly, ISWAP claimed responsibility for two separate attacks targeting the Nigerian military and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno and Yobe States. Two persons were killed in the process. Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man, identified as Rabiu Bala, also stabbed his friend, Kabiru Ishaq, to death over a missing Android phone at Unguwar Shadadi area of Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

In Osun, a suspected cultist, Segun Ogunfunmilayo, was arrested for allegedly shooting a grocery seller in Ede over an unpaid debt.

Mar. 9: A 20-year-old farmworker, James Solomon, was arrested in Ogun State for allegedly killing his colleague, identified simply as Benson, at a farm in Ideko Shogaolu village. In addition, terrorists attacked four communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing 14 residents. Meanwhile, eight people, including a heavily pregnant woman, were killed in a violent clash in Farin Dutse, Nasarawa.

In Cross River, two people were killed in renewed hostilities between the Odukpani Qua and New Netim communities in the State. Also, police in Abia and Nasarawa States rescued four kidnapped victims and killed seven criminals, including a notorious kidnapping kingpin known as ‘Honor’, during separate operations on the same date.

In addition to incidents of the day, police killed four suspected kidnappers and recovered one AK-47 rifle along the railway line in Agbarho area of Delta State.

Mar. 10: Police in Akwa busted a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate, killing a member of the gang while five others who sustained varying degrees of injuries were arrested. In Kebbi, terrorists attacked and killed 15 villagers in Arewa Dandi Local Government Area of the State.

While Akwa Ibom Police arrested a 42-year-old man, Victor Okoh, for killing his wife, Victoria Okoh, with a machete at their residence, an intoxicated police officer killed a man identified as Sani Khalid in the Anguwan-Kaje area of Niger State.

Also, a terrorist attack on a church camp in Nyanya, a town in Nasarawa, left three worshippers dead.

Mar. 11: Kidnappers abducted eight residents of Dnako in Bwari central ward of the Bwari Area Council of Abuja. In another tragic event, a gas explosion killed one person and left four others injured at the popular Otedola bridge in Lagos.

While a wanted terrorist, Salisu Mohammed, alias Dogo Saleh, was gunned down during a gun battle with the anti-kidnap officers of the FCT police command, terrorists killed two vigilante members and injured one other at Dogon Ruwa village in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

Mar. 12: Terrorists abducted ten villagers from three remote communities under Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. Also, men of the Nigerian Army killed two kidnappers and nabbed suspected gunrunners while recovering arms and ammunition in Plateau.

Additionally, accidents allegedly caused by members of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSR) claimed the life of a two-year-old girl in the southern region. Police also killed an 18-year-old boy, identified as Chinedu Abimbor, in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the State.  Also, a teacher in Jigawa State confessed to beheading and mutilating his Almajiri student.

Mar. 13: The Nigerian Air Force airstrikes killed 20 in criminal hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hillforest, Faskari area of Katsina. Similarly, in Zamfara, airstrikes killed two terror kingpins, Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga, including 20 of their fighters in State.

Mar. 14: Officers of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with local vigilantes, repelled an attack by terrorists in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara, and killed four of the assailants. Similarly, troops neutralised 12 terrorists in Faskari area of Katsina.

Five were also kidnapped in Delta on the same day.

Mar. 15: While the joint security operatives in Katsina State foiled an attack by terrorists and killed one suspect during the operation, the youth leader-elect of Umusi Olokwa community in Owerri, Imo State, Stanley Nwoke, was killed in a violent attack.

While a suspected armed robber died in the hospital after being rescued from an attempted lynching in Lagos, six people were kidnapped by terrorists in Borno. Additionally, a deadly attack on pipeline surveillance workers left one person dead and others severely injured.

Mar. 16: Kano Police arrested 33-year-old Anas Yakubu for killing his sister-in-law, Fatima Adamu, in Baura Village, Albasu Local Government Area. In Yobe, seven fighters of ISWAP were reportedly killed in a fierce confrontation with Nigerian troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yanma.

Also, local hunters in Kabba-Bunuare area of Kogi killed a suspected terrorist while trying to rescue five kidnap victims in the State. Meanwhile, seven people were kidnapped in Niger State on the same day. 

Mar. 17: Two persons were reportedly killed in the renewed communal clash between the people of Umuobor-Akaeze, and their Ogwor neighbours in the Ishiagu community, both in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Mar. 18: Terrorists attacked Dutsin-Ma town in Katsina State, abducting two students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma in the Bayan Gidan Radio area. 

Meanwhile, troops of Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army killed 10 terrorists and rescued 101 kidnapped victims across Kankara in Katsina State and Shinkafi in Zamfara State on the same day.

Mar. 19: In Ondo, armed men killed five farmers after invading a farming settlement in Aba Oyinbo, Akure North area of the State. While five persons, including two soldiers, were killed by terrorists in the Kwande area of Benue State on the same day, Muhammad Adamu, Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) was shot dead in Plateau State.

Also, 10 persons were killed in a truck explosion at Karu bridge along the Abuja-Keffi expressway. In Akwa Ibom, a suspected vandal was found dead while trying to vandalise a transformer belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in Eket. 

Mar. 20: A fire outbreak at the Munna Albadawi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in  Borno State, killed  a 7-year-old boy, Abubakar Gargar.

Also, terrorists kidnapped eight farmers and four others at Kurata village near Kasangwai community in Kagarko area of Kaduna State.

Mar. 21: A 56-year-old farmer, Baba Issac, was hacked to death on his farm at Gurufufu village in Kwaku ward of Kuje Area Council of the FCT. 

While a Nigerian Navy officer attached to the Defence Headquarters, Navy Lt. Cynthia Akor, was kidnapped alongside two others by gunmen in Abuja, armed men kidnapped a farmer at Issele-Azagba community in Aniocha area of Delta State.

Delta State Police Command’s Special Assignment Team also reportedly killed five suspected kidnappers in a gun battle around Iyamuge, Otu-Jeremi, Warri, Ughelli, and environs.

Mar. 22: Nine operatives of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards were reportedly killed in an ambush laid by terrorists in Anka local government area. Also, police in Adamawa arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of a Point of Sale (POS) operator, Abbas Yuguda, in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area.

Mar. 23: Four people died and three others sustained various degrees of injury in a motor accident in Katsina State. Also, a police officer suspected to be mentally unstable went on a shooting spree, killing three people in Calabar, capital of Cross Rivers State.

In Imo, the parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area, Rev Fr John Ubaechu was kidnapped by unknown persons in Ejemekwuru. In another incident, police arrested a pharmacist, Ibrahim Yahaya and Dr Musa Awwal, both staff of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi (ATBUTH), for beating a security guard, Dauda Polmi, to death.

Similarly, terrorists attacked Baidi community in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing one person and injuring two others.

Mar. 24: As soldiers killed a suspected terrorist and an armed robber in Wase and Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGA) of Plateau, an officer was killed when 12 inmates escaped from Kogi custodial centre. Similarly, a fatal train accident claimed the life of a woman along the Gwagwa-Idu railway line in Abuja. 

In Kaduna, three kidnapped victims of Surubu community in Kauru area of the state were killed by their captors despite the payment of ransom to secure their release. One other person was killed in Anambra and another in Enugu.

Mar. 25: Three soldiers were reportedly killed when terrorists attacked a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Wajiroko in Borno State. In Kebbi State, terrorists killed two Customs officers and a local at Bachaka border in Argungu Local Government.

Also, police arrested a man, Victor Lorjaal, for allegedly macheting his mother and his elder sister to death in Ekiti State. In addition, two people died when a tragic gas explosion rocked a Chinese firm in Abia State, as a leadership crisis in Ugbonla in Ondo State resulted in the tragic killing of the assistant secretary of the community, Idowu Joel Lowo.

In other incidents, terrorists in Katsina killed two villagers in Kankara area of the state and another person in Borno. 

Mar. 26: A joint security taskforce set up by the FCT Administration shot a hawker to death as she went about her business while enforcing the ban on commercial okada operators around EFAB Estate junction, located off Kubwa-Abuja expressway.

Meanwhile, a road accident at Eldorado Cinema Junction along Airport Road, Kano, claimed two lives and left one person seriously injured.

Mar. 27: While repelling terrorists’ attack in Tsafe area of the Zamfara, police confirmed the death of an officer and six others. Meanwhile, a mob killed 16 travellers accused of kidnapping in Edo State.

Also, kidnappers reportedly invaded Ayetoro-Kiri community in Bunu district of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State, abducting a timber contractor, Enoch Johnson and five other residents.

Mar. 28: As police confirmed the killing of an officer and one other in a violent attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Abuja, 10 people were killed by non-state actors in Ruwi community, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Also, cult clash led to the death of one in Rivers State.

Mar. 30: A vigilante was killed in Kano as six people, including a couple lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident at Ahoko bridge, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway. In Taraba, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) tortured a 42-year-old resident of the state to death.

Also, one died in an auto-clash in Ogun State.

Mar. 31: A minibus collided with a Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) truck and led to the death of one. In addition, kidnappers killed one person and abducted another person in Asa 2 area of Benue State.

Meanwhile, records from HumAngle Tracker revealed that between January and March 2025, Nigeria experienced a total of 475 incidents across all six geopolitical regions. 

View tracker here.