No fewer than 5,166 Nigerians were killed while there were 1,830 cases of abduction across the country between January and July this year.

This is according to a 2023 Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence consulting company.

According to the report obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, 749 Nigerians were killed in January; 624 in February; 961 in March; 707 in April; 679 in May; 854 in June; and 592 in July.

It also revealed that 208 Nigerians were abducted in January; 173 in February; 411 in March; 302 in April; 168 in May; 239 in June; and 329 in July.

Speaking on the rising trend of insecurity in the country that has continued to claim lives and property, a retired Colonel, Hassan Stan-Labo, blamed the government for failing in its responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens.

Stan-Labo said, “The killing of Nigerians is a result of banditry, ongoing attacks in communities. The past government never took seriously, in the last eight years, our security situation. We had a government that was insensitive, nonchalant and which didn’t show commitment to taking care of the people.”Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Intel and a security expert, Kabir Adamu, said there has been a further collapse of social order and a yawning distrust between government and citizens.

He said, “Federal and state governments need to enhance collaboration for enhanced administration of criminal justice and the restoration of social order by addressing the root causes of these challenges, including drug addiction, socio-economic grievances, poverty, unemployment and the effects of climate change as well as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”

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