TIMELINE: Nigeria Records 524 Deaths from Various Tragic Incidents in January

At least 524 people lost their lives in various tragic incidents across Nigeria in January, according to HumAngle Tracker. The incidents, which occurred in different parts of the country, have left many families in mourning and raised concerns about the safety and security of citizens. 

HumAngle Tracker provides data-driven insights into key issues in Nigeria, including conflict and security trends, humanitarian crises, and governance and accountability. In January, it recorded incidents such as road accidents, building collapses, fire outbreaks, and violent attacks. While some were attributed to human error, others resulted from deliberate acts of violence.

The figures were compiled from media reports.

Timeline

Jan. 1: Ondo State Police Command arrested a man, Elela Monday, for killing his 14-year-old son at Ajowa Akoko. 

Jan. 2: A woman was shot by a police officer after going to check up on her husband at Okeila police station Ado Ekiti. 

Jan. 3: At least 11 people lost their lives, and 31 huts were burnt to ashes in Gululu village, Jahun, and Miga local government areas of Jigawa State.

Jan. 4: Following a large-scale attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Sabon Gari Community in Damboa LGA, Borno, joint air and ground forces neutralised 34 terrorists during firefights; however, six soldiers were killed in action during the encounter. On the same day, Lakurawa terrorists killed two policemen and rustled over 200 cows from Natsini village in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Jan. 5: Three people died from a petrol tanker explosion in Agbor, headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident occurred near the First Bank branch along the ever-busy Old Lagos/Asaba Road.

Jan. 6: Three people died in Abuja school following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED). Also, a wave of violence swept through the Owo area of Ondo State, leaving five people dead in a bloody clash between suspected rival cult groups on the same day.

In Ebonyi, the Nigeria Police Force said its operatives arrested 17 suspects in Enohia Itim village, Afikpo LGA, for the murder of one Uromchi Okoroch, who was accused by some youths of being involved in the killing of several individuals through alleged witchcraft and spiritual means.

In Ogun, 45-year-old Tolulope Olusanya was found dead in her house with her body decomposing. 

Jan. 8:  A Sokoto State Community Guard Corps operative reportedly lost his life due to an accidental discharge shortly after participating in a joint operation that rescued 66 kidnap victims in the state. The operation, led by the Nigerian Army, was conducted in Tidibali Forest, located in the eastern part of the state.

In Bayelsa State, three persons were killed as suspected cultists attacked Igbogene Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area. The attack was the first in nearly a year after the state government overhauled its security apparatus by establishing the Community Security Corps, among others.

Jan. 9: Terrorists killed 30 security operatives consisting of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and vigilante members in Katsina State. The incident occurred in Baure village, Safana Local Government Area, when a joint security team returned from a condolence visit.

Also, the Imo State Police Command confirmed the killing of no fewer than 18 people in coordinated attacks by gunmen in several communities in Orsu Local Government Area on the same day.

In another case, a 10-year-old girl died in Ethiopia East Local Government in Delta State.

Jan. 10: Four people were killed in a deadly terrorist attack on a Nigerian Immigration Service facility at the Kangiwa border in Kebbi State. Among the victims were a local watchman and three contractors working on-site.

Jan. 11: No fewer than 20 people were killed and many more injured after a military aircraft targeted Tungar Kara in the Maradun area of Zamfara State. The airstrike, intended to neutralise terror groups, instead hit civilians, local vigilantes, and members of the state-backed security outfit Askarawa. On the same day, armed men killed nine people and injured many others in the Karu area of Nasarawa State.

Jan. 12: 40 farmers were reportedly killed in an attack by terrorists in northeastern Nigeria. The incident happened in Borno’s Dumba community, said Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. Also, two notorious terrorist leaders in Zamfara State, Kachalla Idi Mai Randa and Ya’u, were reportedly killed in separate confrontations with rival terrorist factions of Dogo Gide.

Jan. 14: Salome Adaidu was killed by Timilehin Ajayi in Nassarawa State in what appeared like a femicide case.

Jan. 15: Terrorists attacked the General Hospital in Kankara town, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. They shot a medical doctor on duty, Murtala Sale Dandashire, and kidnapped at least five people from the hospital. 

In a separate incident on the same day, a final-year student of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic was shot dead by suspected cultists. The incident occurred along Abuja Street in Ikot Osurua, a community hosting the institution.

Also, Gloria Ajine was killed on her farm in Ilewo Orile, Ogun State on the same day.

Jan. 16: Nine members of a family were killed in Okete village, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, after a truck ran into their residential apartment. Similarly, the military announced the killing of 76 terrorists in various operations carried out in northeastern Borno State on the same day. In Sokoto, five soldiers and six terrorists died in a firefight between troops of the Nigerian Army and members of the Lakurawa terrorists in the Gudu LGA.

Jan. 17: Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said terrorist attacks in some villages in Chibok Local Government Area of the state led to the death of no fewer than five persons. Also, a clash between two communities in Ondo State resulted in the tragic loss of six lives.

In Osun, a student of a private polytechnic located in the town was shot dead during a communal clash between Ilobu and Ifon communities. Also, seven traders and three robbers were killed in an armed robbery incident that occurred at Ngalda Market in the Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Also, a 50-year-old Atagoshi was beheaded over a land dispute with her relative in Imo.

Jan. 18: The Katsina State Police Command said its operatives successfully foiled a bandits’ attack on Ruwan Doruwa village, Dutsinma LGA, Katsina State, and seven terrorists were neutralised in the foiled operation. Also, Nigerian soldiers stormed the location of notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, destroying his food storage facility and killing one of his sons.

On the same day, a petrol tanker explosion killed 86 people and injured 56 others in Niger State. 

Jan. 19: Armed men reportedly invaded a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, and shot a Prophet, Yomi Adetula, dead. The armed men stormed the CCC Eagle Parish along Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko area, and opened fire during the service.

Meanwhile, one person was killed, and at least ten houses were burnt to ashes in Ndieguzu Agalegu Omege Community located in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after suspected hoodlums attacked the community.

Jan. 21: Adamawa State Police said it killed one of the kidnap kingpins in Ngurore in Yola-South Local Government Area.

Jan. 22: A prospective female member of the National Youth Service Corps was killed in a fatal road accident that happened in Ebonyi State. She was among a group of 12 other prospective corps members conveyed in a 14-seater bus heading to the NYSC orientation camp in Afikpo town for their three-week orientation course.

Terrorists also killed an Imo State-based lawyer, Chinedu Nwowu, in Mgbidi, the Oru West Local Government Area of the state. He was driving along the Mgbidi highway when the assailants intercepted his vehicle.

Jan 23: The Road Traffic Management Authority in Kwara State, on Jan. 23,  announced the death of 18 people in a road accident involving a trailer and a mini truck in the Oko-Olowo area of Ilorin West LGA. The accident happened when a trailer carrying cattle and some people collided with a mini truck at high speed, causing a devastating crash.

Jan. 24: No more than 20 Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed in a suspected attack by fighters by ISWAP terrorists in the remote Malam-Fatori town in the northeastern Borno State. Also, terrorists killed a 27-year-old man, Piti Ezekiel, and kidnapped five other persons at Rumaya Community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Also, armed men reportedly killed Prof. Emeka Chukwuma, a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, on the same day. Chukwuma returned to his hometown, Umueji in Asaba, Delta State capital on Friday for his usual weekend when the assassins killed him in his house.

Jan. 25: Police operatives attached to the Imo Command killed six terrorist members, including those associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN). On the same day, a tanker explosion on the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway killed 18 people.

Also, a 74-year-old wheelchair bound Woman was burnt to death in Abagana, Njikoka LGA, Anambra State. 

Jan. 26: While Bakare Oluwarotimi, a senior medical officer with the Lagos State Health Service Commission, reportedly died in a road accident, Anambra police command says it arrested four suspects for reportedly burning a 74-year-old woman to death in the Abagana area of the state. Also, one person was killed following an explosion in Sabon-Pegi community, Mashegu LGA of Niger state, on the same day.

Rachel Kosichukwu, a victim of femicide was poisoned to death by an upcoming musician, when she went to visit him at his home around Iyana Isolo in Lagos.

Jan. 27: The newly formed security outfit, Agunechemba, in Anambra State, raided  Lilu in Ihiala Local Government Area and neutralised six IPOB terrorists. Three other suspects reportedly fled with gunshot injuries. In another surprising incident, non-state actors attacked an ambulance along Egbe-Ogbe-Ponyan road in Yagba East local government of Kogi State, killing its director, Segun Adekoya.

Also, police posted about a woman killed and beheaded in Isoko South LGA of Delta State. 

Jan. 28: Criminal herders killed five farmers after attacking the Ajegunle-Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The assailants invaded the farmlands in the community, fired shots in the air, and killed the victims in the process. 

Also, gunmen attacked a petrol station in Iseyin, Oyo State, killing one person and abducting another. The killers had reportedly targeted the station owner for abduction but did not find him on-site. 

In Delta, armed men killed two people in the Mbiri community, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, plunging the area into chaos.

In another incident, terrorists reportedly shot dead one herder and abducted two others at the Dogon-Kurmi vast land, situated in Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

Jan. 29: Armed men attacked the residence of the Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, leaving a police officer dead. The assailants shot the officer, who was identified as Police Corporal Shamsudeen Lawal, who was later confirmed dead at the nearby hospital where he was receiving medical treatment.

In addition, the Police Command in Ogun neutralised five suspected kidnappers in a gun duel on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. In Lagos, two people died when a two-storey building under construction collapsed, with workers trapped inside around the Ikota axis of Lekki.

Jan. 30: Three people were reportedly killed and 24 others abducted in a series of attacks on four communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Jan. 31: Five persons were reportedly killed when suspected terrorists attacked the Lighitlubang village in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. Also, four operatives of the Anambra State Special Anti-Tout Squad died in a road accident involving a tipper in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

The January incidents have highlighted the need for improved safety measures and emergency response systems in Nigeria.