By Ayo Kehinde
Beacon Consulting Ltd, a leading enterprise security risk management firm, has released its comprehensive monthly security report for November 2023, shedding light on critical security incidents that unfolded in Nigeria during the period.
The report, covering November 01 – 30, 2023, underscores significant challenges faced by the nation, including a surge in violent criminality by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), civil disturbances triggered by economic hardships, and various geopolitical events.
Notable among these were the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States on November 11, 2023, as well as responses to international developments such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Key findings from the report revealed a 22.88% decrease (721 incidents) in overall security incidents compared to the October report. However, abductions experienced a 10.42% decrease, totalling 464 cases. Most alarming was the 16.06% increase in fatalities, with 1308 recorded deaths across 264 local government areas in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said the report, adding that,
“Examining the data in detail reveals that a breakdown in the fatalities shows 63.83% of fatalities occurred in the North East geopolitical region (835 fatalities), North-West geopolitical region recorded 13.53% (177 fatalities), 13.45% occurred in North Central (176 fatalities). In the South-West, 3.89% of the total fatalities were recorded (51 fatalities), South-South 2.67% (35 fatalities), and South East 2.59% (34 fatalities). 90.76% of the fatalities in November 2023 affected the northern half of Nigeria.
A further breakdown shows that civilian fatalities accounted for 41.36% of the fatalities in November (541 fatalities) with root causes attributed to vehicle accidents (116 fatalities) and armed attacks on civilians (262 fatalities).
Speaking on the report, the managing director of Beacon Consulting Limited, Dr. Kabir Adamu emphasized the need to use a result-based framework that will boost the drivers of insecurity in Nigeria and Beacon Consulting’s security risk management capabilities to improve individual, corporate, and national security.
Dr. Kabir mapped out advisories to the government, security agencies and civilians to ensure safety and security during this holiday season.
He recommended an inclusive security framework that ensures partnership between the government security forces and the local community leaders, a responsive community approach to security, travel plans and guidelines, emergency preparedness, conscious driving and minimal show-offs during celebrations as mechanisms to ensure safety and security in this period.
He added that Beacon Consulting remains committed to enhancing individual, corporate, and national security through its expertise in enterprise security risk and intelligence management.
