Listed here is Religious violence in Nigeria for the month of January 2022. Religious violence in Nigeria date back to the Kano riot of 1953. It arose out of the visit of a German-born preacher Rev. Reinhardt Bonke, who was invited by a Christian organization, the Christ for All Nation Ministry, to conduct a week long crusade in Kano. Thousands of Muslim youths trooped out into the town to tear up all posters, banners, and handbills advertising the crusade. It soon debased into burning of homes, shops, and cars and attacking and killing of people in the “Sabon Gari” quarters of the town inhabited by non-indigenes, most of whom are Christians.
According to Trading Economics, the Nigerian population is estimated at over 215 million. The major religious groups in Nigeria are Christianity and Islam. There is neither a scientific representation of the numerical strength of these religious groups nor of their geographical distribution. In Nigeria, Religion has served as a motivation for violence, and religious bigots have attempted to legitimize violence in the name of God. Contemporary acts of extreme violence such as terrorist attacks are often justified as ‘holy warfare’.
Religious violence in Nigeria for January 2022
- January 1 – Kidnappers abducted two in Shendam, Plateau.
- January 1 – Soldiers killed two civilians in Abeokuta South, Ogun.
- January 1 – Bandits killed six in Gassol, Taraba.
- January 2 – Bandits killed one and kidnapped twenty in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA); killed five in Igabi LGA and killed one in Zangon Kataf LGA in Kaduna.
- January 2 – Communal violence led to three deaths in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
- January 3 – Police officers killed one suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) member in Orlu, Imo.
- January 3 – Bandits killed two in Zaria LGA and killed twenty-four in Igabi LGA (while security operatives killed two bandits) in Kaduna.
- January 4 – Four inmates were killed during an attempted jailbreak in Ife, Osun.
- January 4 – Gunmen killed two and kidnapped three in Wushishi, Niger State.
- January 4 – Bandits killed two and kidnapped three in Maumfashi, Katsina.
- January 4 – Boko Haram killed ten soldiers in Marte, Borno.
- January 4 – Police officers killed two bandits in Tsafe, Zamfara.
- January 4 – Communal violence led to one death in Kirikasamma, Jigawa.
- January 4 – Vigilantes killed seven bandit informants in Bungudu LGA and four informants in Kaura-Namode LGA in Zamfara.
- January 5 – Bandits killed two hundred in Anka and Bukkuyum LGAs in Zamfara.
- January 6 – Herdsmen killed five in Isi-Uzo, Enugu.
- January 6 – Herdsmen killed three in Ose, Ondo.
- January 6 – Kidnappers abducted one in Asa LGA and four in Ekiti LGA in Kwara.
- January 6 – Gunmen bombed a police station and freed detainees in Ideato South, Imo.
- January 6 – Kidnappers killed one and abducted eight in Gashaka, Taraba.
- January 6 – Communal violence led to two deaths in Isoko South, Delta.
- January 7 – Nigerian troops killed three Boko Haram militants in Mobbar, Borno.January 8 – Kidnappers killed one and kidnapped five in Ibadan, Oyo.
- January 8 – Gunmen killed one Ebubeagu operative in Ikwo, Ebonyi.
- January 8–January 9 – Kidnappers abducted one in Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area (LGA), one in Owerri LGA, one in Mbaitoli LGA, one in Unuimo LGA, and one in Isiala-Mbano LGA in Imo.
- January 9 – Nigerian troops killed five bandits during a clash in Giwa, Kaduna.
- January 10 – Suspected bandits killed one and kidnapped ten in Chikun, Kaduna.
- January 10 – Bandits killed three in Riyom, Plateau.
- January 10 – Herdsmen killed five in Ose, Ondo.
- January 10 – Nigerian troops killed “scores” (estimated at forty) of Boko Haram militants in Konduga, Borno.
- January 10 – Boko Haram killed two civilian workers at the Tukur Buratai War Institute in Biu, Borno.
- January 10 – Bandits kidnapped six in Anka LGA and six in Maru LGA in Zamfara.
- January 11 – Gunmen killed one police officer in Akoko South-West, Ondo.
- January 11 – Bandits killed eighteen in Bassa, Plateau.
- January 11 – Bandits killed forty vigilantes in Gassol, Taraba.
- January 11 – Kidnappers abducted a “bus-load” of people (estimated at ten) in Isiala-Mbano, Imo.
- January 12 – Kidnappers abducted “several” people (estimated at ten) in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna.
- January 12 – Bandits kidnapped nine in Zaria, Kaduna.
- January 12 – Gunmen killed thirty-four and kidnapped three in Shiroro, Niger State.
- January 12 – Kidnappers abducted three students in Barkin Ladi, Plateau.
- January 13 – Kidnappers abducted four students in Lafia, Nassarawa.
- January 13 – Sectarian violence led to five deaths in Imeko-Afon, Ogun.
- January 13 – Customs officers killed one civilian child in Egbado South, Ogun.
- January 13 – Police officers repelled a Boko Haram attack on a police training college in Gwoza, Borno; no casualties were reported.
- January 14 – Gunmen killed one police officer in Oru West, Imo.
- January 14 – Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa killed four and kidnapped “many” (estimated at ten) in Chibok, Borno.
- January 14 – Nigerian troops killed three bandits in Chikun, Kaduna.(Last week, January 14 – Bandits killed thirteen civilians, two soldiers, and one police officer in Danko Wasagu, Kebbi.)
- January 1–January 17 – Bandits killed 220 and kidnapped 200 in Niger State; 163 kidnappings and 165 deaths were not already accounted for.
- January 15 – Nigerian troops killed five Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) militants in Biu, Borno.
- January 15 – Bandits killed three and kidnapped twenty-eight in Mashegu, Niger State.
- January 15 – Police officers repelled a bandit attack in Kurfi, Katsina, killing “many” (estimated at ten) bandits.
- January 16 – Kidnappers abducted seven in Remo North Local Government Area (LGA) and two in Sagamu LGA, Ogun.
- January 16 – Kidnappers abducted a traditional ruler in Jos South, Plateau.
- January 16 – Kidnappers abducted three in Gurara, Niger State.
- January 17 – Bandits killed three police officers and two vigilantes while the police killed “some” bandits (estimated at ten) in Mariga, Niger State.
- January 17 – Nigerian troops killed “some” (estimated at ten) Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) militants in Ihiala, Anambra.
- January 17 – Nigerian troops killed three bandits in Chikun, Kaduna.
- January 18 – Gunmen killed two soldiers in Ukwa West, Abia.
- January 18 – Communal violence led to four deaths in Onicha, Ebonyi.
- January 18 – Gunmen kidnapped two All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and kidnapped one other in Enugu, Enugu.
- January 18 – Police officers killed one suspected IPOB/ESN member in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo.
- January 18 – Herdsmen killed two in Okpokwu, Benue.
- January 19 – Bandits killed one soldier and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operative during an attack on a military base in Jibia, Katsina.
- January 19 – Bandits killed “many” (estimated at twenty) in Mariga, Niger State.
- January 20 – Boko Haram killed two and kidnapped seventeen in Chibok, Borno.
- January 20 – Nigerian troops killed three kidnappers in Jos South, Plateau.
- January 20 – Bandits killed three and kidnapped thirty in Mashegu, Niger State.
- January 21 – Police officers killed two kidnappers in Ganye, Adamawa.
- January 22 – Gunmen killed four mining workers in Jos, Plateau.
- January 22 – Bandits killed three in Gassol, Taraba.
- January 22 – Gunmen killed an Ebubeagu security operative in Ikwo, Ebonyi.
- January 22 – Herdsmen killed one in Isi-Uzo, Enugu.
- January 22 – Nigerian troops foiled a kidnap attack and killed six bandits in Gusau, Zamfara.
- January 23 – Gunmen killed two in Ose, Ondo.
- January 23 – Gunmen killed two police officers and kidnapped one police officer in Taura, Jigawa.
- January 23 – Bandits killed nine in Tsafe, Zamfara.
- January 24 – Gunmen killed one monarch and four aides in Ewekoro, Ogun.
- January 24 – Kidnappers killed one police officer and kidnapped one in Etsako West, Edo.
- January 24 – Gunmen killed three in Bassa, Plateau.
- January 24 – Bandits killed one and kidnapped fifteen in Rafi, Niger State.
- January 25 – Kidnappers abducted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin in Yenegoa, Bayelsa.
- January 25 – Kidnappers abducted five in Gujba, Yobe.
- January 25 – One police inspector and two bandits were killed during a gun duel in Egbado North, Ogun.
- January 25 – Communal violence led to two deaths in Kauru, Kaduna.
- January 25 – Boko Haram kidnapped three in Potiskum, Yobe.
- January 25 – Nigerian troops killed “several” Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) militants in Ngala and Guzamala Local Government Areas (estimated at ten deaths each) in Borno.
- January 27 – A soldier killed one civilian in Onitsha, Anambra.
- January 27 – Bandits killed two and kidnapped 100 in Rafi, Niger State.
- January 29 – Police officers killed two students in Ilorin, Kwara.
- January 29 – Cultists killed five in Ilesha East, Osun.
- January 29 – Bandits killed eighteen in Shiroro, Niger State.
- January 29 – Nigerian troops killed two Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) militants in Gujba, Yobe.
- January 29 – Kidnappers abducted ten farmers in Akure North, Ondo.
- January 29 – Communal violence led to two deaths in Biase, Cross River.
- January 30 – Nigerian troops killed three Boko Haram/ISWA militants in Magumeri, Borno.
- January 30 – Bandits killed sixteen in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna.
- January 30 – Bandits killed one and kidnapped “several” (estimated at five) in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna.
- January 30 – Airstrikes killed forty-three bandits in Safana, Katsina.
- January 30 (date estimated) – Police officers killed twenty-three bandits across Rabah, Illela, and Goronyo Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Sokoto.
- January 31 – Bandits kidnapped seven in Kebbe, Sokoto.
- January 25 – Kidnappers abducted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin in Yenegoa, Bayelsa.
- January 31 – Suspected herdsmen killed the Benue information commissioner’s brother in Agatu, Benue.
- January 31 – A landmine planted by bandits killed one soldier in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna.
- January 31 – Bandits kidnapped fifty in Faskari, Katsina.
- January 31 – Kidnappers abducted eleven in Umunneochi, Abia.
- January 31 – Bandits killed three soldiers and four vigilantes in Mariga LGA and four civilians in Paikoro LGA in Niger State.
