Nigeria records 331 casualties as explosive violence declines — Report

A recent global report by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) highlights a concerning trend in Nigeria, revealing that 331 civilians were killed or injured by explosive weapons in 2025. While this figure represents a significant 31% decrease from the 482 casualties recorded in 2024, it underscores the persistent threat faced by innocent populations. The report's findings are particularly stark as they attribute the majority of these devastating attacks—85%—to non-state actors, pointing to the ongoing security challenges within the country.

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Nigeria saw a fall in civilian casualties of explosive weapons use last year, with civilian harm decreasing by 31 per cent from 482 civilians killed and injured in 2024 to 331 last year, including 179 fatalities.

This decline in casualties, though welcome, must be viewed within the broader context of global conflict. The AOAV's Explosive Violence Monitoring Project indicates that while Nigeria saw a reduction, other regions like Ukraine and Gaza bore the brunt of explosive weapon use. Ukraine accounted for 39% of global incidents, while Gaza suffered the highest number of civilian fatalities. This disparity in reporting often means that the specific, localized impacts within Nigeria, such as those caused by non-state actors, receive less international attention than larger-scale global conflicts.

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This is predominantly due to attacks by non-state actors, who were responsible for 85 per cent of civilian casualties.

From our perspective, the AOAV report serves as a critical reminder of the human cost of ongoing violence in Nigeria. The focus on non-state actors is crucial for understanding the nature of the threat and for developing targeted security strategies. While international media may focus on broader geopolitical conflicts, stories like these, detailing the direct impact of explosive violence on Nigerian civilians, are vital for informing domestic policy and ensuring that the safety and security of our citizens remain paramount.

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Globally, AOAV recorded 49,814 deaths and injuries from explosive weapons use in 2025, making it the second-highest annual figure since the organisation began monitoring in 2010.