Boko Haram: 7,136 civilians killed in 8 years, 3,384 injured

A recent report by Budgit Nigeria has said that over 7,136 civilians were killed and 3,384persons may have suffered various degrees of injuries between 2009-2016 from Boko Haram attacks in the North-East.

Budgit in an analysis conducted through media organization in the country and presented to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja also revealed that 336 soldiers may have lost their lives in the Battle against the Islamic sect in the country within the period under review.

The report also had it that no fewer than 5,929 members of the Boko Haram sect have also died as a result of insurgency adding that 181 members of the sect died to suicide bombing.

The analysis code name BH tracker said the attacks by the sect became severe in 2014 where 2,585 civilian deaths were recorded, 114 soldiers killed, about 24 suicide bombers died, 1679 Boko haram members died and over 1010 persons reportedly injured.

Providing the casualties breakdown during the period, Budgit stated the highest number of soldiers’ deaths was recorded in 2014, as about 114 soldiers died in that year, adding that this was followed by the 76 deaths recorded in the preceding year.

It, however, stated that the least number of soldiers’ deaths was recorded in 2009, as only one soldier died in that year. On the number of Boko Haram members that died during the seven-year period, the report stated that the highest casualty figure of 1,471 deaths was recorded in 2015, while the lowest figure of three deaths was in 2010.

Budgit further stated that the highest civilian casualty was seen in 2015, where 2,585 persons lost their lives to insurgency in the North-East, adding that 1,975 others were killed in 2014, while the lowest casualty figure of 86 deaths was recorded in 2010.

It stated that the highest rate of suicide bombing was also in 2015, adding that 91 suicide bombers lost their lives that year.

The Operation Leader, Budgit Nigeria, Stanley Achonu while explaining how they arrived at the figure said the organization’s team that compiled the figures worked on it for about a year, adding that the aim was to make Nigerians not to only appreciate the work done by the military in the fight against insurgency, but to try and reveal the extent of damage done in the affected region.

“BokoHaram overtook ISIL as the most deadly terrorist group in the world in 2015. Nigeria, with the largest increase in death from terrorism, recorded 7,512fatalities in 2014. This alone shows how deadly the sect was and this report tries to bring to fore some of the findings recorded during the review period,” Achonu added.