TIMELINE: At Least 533 Killed in Tragic Incidents Across Nigeria in February

In the latest data from HumAngle Tracker, no fewer than 533 people reportedly lost their lives in various tragic incidents across Nigeria in February. The incidents, according to our data on conflict and security trends, raise concerns about the safety and security of citizens in the country.

HumAngle tracked incidents such as road accidents, building collapses, fire outbreaks, femicide, and violent attacks. The figures, higher than what was recorded in January, were compiled from media reports.

Timeline

Feb. 1: While a violent clash in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja left one person dead, 30 people lost their lives in a road accident on the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The victims were reportedly burnt to death when two buses carrying them collided head-on and burst into flames.

Meanwhile, three persons were killed in a clash between rival cult groups in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. Also, the Taraba State Police Command confirmed the abduction of eight people and the killing of one resident in the Jimlari community of the Lau Local Government Area on the same day.

Feb. 2: The police command in Ebonyi said 10 persons were killed in an attack on the Amegu Nkalaha community in Ishielu LGA by some gunmen. The assailants reportedly burned down many houses in the community and also injured many residents during the attack.

While five people were killed in a fire outbreak that occurred at Dugja Bayan Tasha Junior Secondary School in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, security agents reportedly killed four persons and injured 16 others during a demolition exercise carried out by the Kano State Government at Rimin Zakara in the Ungogo Local Government Area.

Feb. 3: A stray bullet from a cult clash killed a trader at the Swali Ultra Modern Market in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Feb. 4: No fewer than 17 students of an Almajiri school lost their lives in a fire outbreak that engulfed their school in Kauran Namoda, Zamfara State. In Ogun State, one person was confirmed dead, while six others were severely injured in an accident that occurred along the Abeokuta-Ibadan highway.

In Abuja, police arrested one Onu Simeon following a fatal altercation that led to the death of Ifeanyi Chukwu at Utako Market. Also, police arrested four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for beating and inflicting bodily injury on a Bolt driver, Henry Osemwenkhia, which eventually led to his death.

Similarly, two people were killed and scores injured in a wave of violence that swept through the Ijegun Egba community in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Feb. 5: Four persons were confirmed dead, alongside 15 cattle and 20 goats in an accident on the Agaie-Lapai Road in the Agaie Local Government of Niger State. The crash, which was caused by wrong overtaking, involved three trailer trucks around Al’Farma International School, Agaie. In Pandogari Community, Rafi LGA of the same State, a vigilante was killed by terrorists who abducted six school girls.

One person was also killed during a kidnapping attack in Katsina on the same day. Also, five hunters were killed when they invaded the Okpomaju community in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. In addition, a stray bullet killed a woman in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Bauchi State Police Command added that it neutralised two terrorists and recovered an AK-49 rifle on the same day.

Feb.6: Justice Azuka, a lawmaker representing Onitsha-North state constituency in Anambra state House of Assembly,  was found dead. The decomposing body of Azuka, who was abducted on the eve of Christmas in 2024, was discovered on the 2nd Niger Bridge, still in Anambra.

In Ondo State, a 50-year-old police inspector, Yusuf Suleiman Blessing, serving in the Irele Council Area, was burned to death by unknown assailants after going missing for over 24 hours. Also, terrorists killed two people and kidnapped many in another attack in the Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

One person was also killed while six others were hospitalised following an attack by Lakurawa terrorists at Gulma community in the Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. In addition, the military confirmed that troops engaged terrorists in a fierce gun battle, neutralising six armed criminals and recovering three motorcycles and several firearms in Ruwan Dawa village, Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

Feb. 7: Troops of the Nigerian Army reportedly killed at least 50 terrorists and captured Tungan Fulani hills, a “notorious stronghold” in Zamfara State. Also, a 42-year-old e-hailing driver, Yusfat Ayinde, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Lagos.

In Anambra, police arrested a 37-year-old man, Kosisochukwu Okafor, for allegedly killing his brother, Emmanuel Okafor.

Feb. 8: While police reportedly killed a father of six in Rivers State,  security agents confirmed the death of two people during a fight between rival cult groups in the Wadata area of Makurdi, Benue State capital. Meanwhile, security operatives killed five suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in separate operations in Imo State.

Feb. 9: While Gombe Police Command confirmed the killing of Reverend Bala Galadima, a presiding clergy of the Evangelical Church Winning All in Lubo community, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area, 19 people were killed in a renewed cult clash in Obelle Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Also, terrorists killed one person and kidnapped nine others in an attack on Palaita, a village near a military base in Erena, Niger State. In a separate incident at Rarah community in Sokoto, terrorists killed one person, injured another, and abducted at least 15 residents on the same day.

In addition, three people died in a communal clash in Cross Rivers, while terrorists killed two police officers at the Kolere Police Outpost in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Feb 10: Criminal herders reportedly killed a 16-year-old girl after she resisted their attempts to rape her in Ekiti State. Troops also neutralised four armed criminals and captured one suspect during a night operation in Nasarawa village, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

In Kwara State, a self-acclaimed cleric, AbdulRahman Bello, was arrested for killing Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, for ritual purposes. Also, four terrorists were killed by the military during a raid in northwestern Nigeria.

Terrorists also killed the son of a minister in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and abducted his wife in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Feb. 11: Armed terrorists launched an attack on travelers along the Dandume-Funtua in Katsina, killing one person and injuring two others. Also, a young man, Ibrahim Mohammed, was stabbed to death over his refusal to surrender his phone to suspected hoodlums in the same state. 

In Bauchi, a truck driver killed a student of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi who was trying to cross a road on a commercial motorcycle. Also, troops killed Hamisu Saleh, a militia leader and suspected kidnapper, during a raid in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. In addition,  kidnappers killed a 46-year-old health worker, Akinola Oyabiyi, in Eleyowo community, near Akure Airport, Ondo State.

Feb. 12: While terrorists killed two residents in a deadly attack on the Walawa community, 12 tomato traders from Danmagaji Market in Zaria were killed following an attack by terrorists at another community in Katsina State. Also, security agents neutralised three notorious armed robbers in Filin-Dabo village in Abuja. 

Feb. 13: A man identified as Iliayasu Mohammed murdered his friend, Safillahi Muhammad, after hosting him for a meal at his residence in Abuja.

Feb. 14: At least 23 persons died in an accident under the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover along the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Hotoro, Kano. Also, a faction of Boko Haram led by Bakoura launched a deadly attack on ISWAP camps in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State and killed at least 31 fighters.

While six people died in a road accident in Anambra State, four persons were killed in a mob action in Kaduna. Also, police neutralised four kidnappers, arrested one, and rescued a 60-year-old man unhurt in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Feb. 15: While seven civilians were killed by a military airstrike that hit Yauni community, Zakka ward of Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, three other security personnel were killed in a gun duel with terrorists. In a separate incident, police in Anambra arrested Christian Ndubuisi in connection with the fatal stabbing of his elder brother during an altercation.

Also, troops killed two kidnappers and rescued four abducted victims in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on the same day. In the same vein, armed herders killed about 19 people in renewed attacks on some communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

Feb. 16: The Ogun State Security Network engaged a gang of robbers in a gun duel near Southwestern University along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway, killing one suspect and arresting two others. While three people died in a fire incident in Ondo State, a professor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Oladipo Ademuyiwa, was also killed by a hit-and-run driver on the newly rehabilitated Kemta-Somorin Road.

Also, one person was shot dead in a cult clash between members of the Vikings Confraternity and Black Axe in a Delta community.

Feb. 17: Aside from six people who lost their lives in the political unrest in Osun State,  two others were killed and several others injured in a communal clash between Hausa and Fulani groups in Agufa village, Miga LGA of Jigawa State.

Also, five students of the Federal University Lokoja and a driver died when an articulated vehicle rammed into the varsity’s shuttle bus.

Feb. 18: Hoodlums in the Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory reportedly killed a commercial motorcycle rider after hitting him with a hammer on the head. Also, two victims died of gun powder explosion at Talatan Mafara in Zamfara State.

In a separate incident, the lifeless bodies of husband and wife were found in a pool of blood in their residence at the Ita Eku area of Igirigiri Road in Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti. In Ondo, assailants macheted to death a newly-admitted student of mass communication at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, (RUGIPO), Owo.

Feb. 19: Kidnappers killed two people in their captivity over a delay in the payment of ransom in Gwargwada, Kuje Area Council of the FCT. Also, a mob killed two youths suspected of kidnapping in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

While terrorists killed one person and abducted over ten residents in some Niger State communities on the same day, four persons were killed in a renewed boundary dispute between two communities in the Ivo area of Ebonyi State.

Feb. 20: The anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command killed four suspected kidnappers along the Warewa axis of the long bridge on the Lagos -Ibadan highway.

Feb. 21: While housewife identified as Ummi Lukman, stabbed her husband, Lukman Husaini, to death in Tashan Tabo district of Tafawa Balewa Local Government of Bauchi State, a road accident claimed the life of a pedestrian, identified as Auwalu Abdulkadir, in Ogun State.

Also, seven people were confirmed dead, while six others sustained injuries in a clash between cocoa farmers and suspected hoodlums in Gbelemoti community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State. In Lagos, police arrested a 23-year-old man, Gbolahan Adebayo, for beating his girlfriend to death at Ijedodo in the Alimosho Local Government Area.

Feb. 22: 12 people, comprising four women and eight men, lost their lives in an auto crash along the Lapai-Agaie road, Niger State. Also, four persons reportedly died in a fire incident in Jigawa State.

Feb. 23: A 400-level student of the Federal University, Dutsinma (FUDMA), in Katsina State, Sa’id Abdulkadir, was killed by vigilantes while on a commercial motorcycle. In Kano, a wrestler, Bahagon Yan Sanda, was arrested after killing a motorcycle rider and attempting to steal his bike. Also, terrorists attacked several villages in Shiroro and Munya Local Government Areas of Niger State, killing one person and kidnapping several others in the process. 

In a similar attack on Domar Gidan Sule community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, terrorists killed three people and looted several houses. Meanwhile, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps killed four suspected terrorists in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina. Two others were killed by troops in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Feb. 24: Nine persons reportedly died while three others sustained injuries in a road accident along Ayetoro area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Also, a driver killed a 12-year-old girl and injured her 15-year-old sister while speeding on the BRT lane along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on the same day.

Terrorists also killed four people and reportedly kidnapped the Vice Chairman of Bukkuyyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Bala Muhammad Maijidadi, and several others. Meanwhile, police neutralised one armed robber and detained another suspect in multiple operations within Enugu on the same day.

Feb. 25: Edo State Police Command arrested one Kelvin Izekor over the alleged murder of his wife, Success Izekor. Also, a groom, Abba Musa, and Maryam Suleiman, the elder sister of the bride, lost their lives in a fatal accident about 30 minutes before their planned wedding in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State.

In Oyo State, a hunter died during a sting operation conducted to rescue some kidnapped victims by the combined efforts of the State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, Policemen, and local hunters. While 10 people died in a road accident in Yobe, three others died in Sokoto State.

Also, kidnappers killed two police officers during a foiled kidnapping operation around Little Rayfield community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Meanwhile, a tragic boat accident in Warri South, Delta State, left five dead and 20 missing after two speedboats collided while returning from a burial.

Two others were killed in separate attacks in Zamfara and Kaduna States.

Feb. 26: Rampaging youths protesting incessant harassment and extortions by military personnel razed five military vehicles in angry reprisal following the gruesome murder of a youth activist by a soldier in Akwa Ibom State. Also, Edo Police arrested a 45-year-old Pastor Ijebor Simon and Destiny Okojabhole, 23, over the alleged murder of a 7-year-old boy, Evans Okojabhole.

In another incident, nine farmers lost their lives in an attack by armed terrorists on Karaga village, Bassa Ward, in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. Terrorists also killed eight people in Zamfara on the same day.

Also, Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji, expressed sympathy for victims of an auto crash involving a government mass-transit bus and a truck in Ado-Ekiti. One of the drivers attached to a government bus conveying civil servants, operating between Adebayo and the Secretariat, lost his life in the accident, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Feb. 27: Six people lost their lives after a truck carrying foodstuffs lost control and overturned at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State. Seven people were also killed and several others wounded in separate attacks in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Feb. 28: A mob set ablaze one man identified as Egholor for allegedly beheading an aged woman over land matters in Ukpiovwin community, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. Also, 60 people were reportedly burnt to death in a road accident in Kwara State. 

Lastly, two people died in a fire incident at Nasarawa State University students’ residential apartments at Angwan Lambu, in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.