Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has raised alarm over what he described as the widespread underreporting of mass killings across Nigeria, cautioning that the lack of attention signals a troubling decline in the value placed on human life.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 12, 2026, Olawepo-Hashim said the frequency of violent attacks in different parts of the country points to a deepening security crisis that is not receiving adequate national or international focus.
He warned that the scale of the violence is being “dangerously underreported and increasingly normalised,” with many incidents failing to spark sustained outrage.
Highlighting recent events, he cited attacks in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where more than 40 people were reportedly killed within a week. He added that the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered, noting that several homes were also destroyed during the attacks.
Olawepo-Hashim further recalled an earlier assault in the same area that allegedly claimed at least seven lives, describing the repeated violence as deeply concerning and largely unchecked.
He also pointed to similar incidents in Kwara State, particularly in Kaiama, Baruten and Ifelodun local government areas, where he said between 20 and 50 people were killed in recent weeks, including five forest guards. According to him, many of these attacks received little attention beyond local reports.
Expanding his concerns to the North-Central region, he cited continued violence in Benue State and Plateau State. He said Benue recorded between 50 and 100 deaths within weeks, while coordinated night attacks in Plateau reportedly left between 30 and 80 people dead.
He added that Niger State and Nasarawa State also witnessed fatalities ranging from 20 to 50 and 10 to 20, respectively, bringing the estimated total casualties across affected areas to between 130 and 300 in a short period.
Describing the situation as alarming, Olawepo-Hashim criticised what he termed “selective attention and dangerous silence” from the international community. He specifically faulted the muted response of global bodies such as the United Nations and the African Union.
According to him, the lack of strong global reaction has reinforced concerns that Nigerian lives are no longer given due importance during national tragedies.
“There is a growing perception that Nigerian lives have been so devalued that even routine expressions of condolence are no longer made,” he said.
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