By Clifford Ndujihe
A devastating start to the year 2025 has seen Nigeria record at least 242 deaths due to insecurity, accidents, and infernos within the first eight days of January. The figure is based on reported incidents. The tally may be higher because many incidents are not reported or under-reported.
The dead included a family of four, who died in an Abuja auto crash; six soldiers and 34 terrorists killed during a firefight between troops and ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists at Sabin Gari Village in Damboa LGA, Borno State; 18 people who were killed in coordinated attacks across several communities in Orsu LGA of Imo State; three people crushed by a container in Ogbomoso; and three people roasted to death by gas explosion fire in Rivers State.
A motor accident along the Akwanga-Abuja road claimed the lives of an entire family of four, who were said to be returning to Abuja after spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in Makurdi on Saturday. The victims include Victor Angbiandoo Tyohemba (37 years old) who was an accountant, his wife, Erdoo Stephanie and their two daughters, Agnes and Immaculate.
On the same Saturday, a gas cylinder exploded in Rivers when a vendor was reportedly refilling a gas can, leaving over 20 people with various degrees of burns after .
The incident happened in the big three areas of Orazi Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. A family of four, father, mother and two children were severely affected in the tragic incident.
After the incident 15 of the victims were taken to Rivers State University Teaching Hospital while about five were moved to a health facility within Orazi for treatment.
Timeline of killings bizzare happenings in January
JANUARY 1: A man and his son burned and killed their kinsman over alleged stealing of N25,000 jeans in Oguta LGA of Imo State.
JANUARY 1: Former Federal Controller of Works, AbdulRazaq Ajani was killed by unknown assailants in Ilorin, Kwara State.
JANUARY 1: A jealous ex-husband, Osaro Ahuwan, 54, Iduowina Quarters, near Oluku, Ovia North-East LGA, Edo State, attempted to burn to death his former wife, Tina Uyi, 54, an Italy-based businesswoman, who returned to Nigeria on December 31, 2024. The woman narrowly escaped with injuries.
JANUARY 1: Gunmen attacked Unguwar Rogo in Ugom community of Maro Ward, Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State burned down six houses and ECWA church, vandalized properties and stole farm products.
JANUARY 1: A 27-year old woman killed husband with a pestle over a misunderstanding at Lafiyagi Dzwafu village in Matcha LGA of Niger State.
JANUARY 2: No fewer than seven persons lost their lives and 31 others sustained injuries in an auto accidents along Kaltungo-Cham Road in Gombe State
JANUARY 2: A jealous and aggrieved man killed a Bishop over suspicion of having affairs with his wife in Olorunda LGA, Osogbo, Osun State.
JANUARY 2: No fewer than seven persons lost their lives in an auto crash on Kaltungo – Cham Road in Gombe State. 31 other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the lone trailer crash, which occurred at about 7:30 a.m.
JANUARY 3: 11 people lost their lives, four people were injured, and 31 huts were burnt to ashes during a communal clash at Gululu village, Jahun and Miga LGA of Jigawa State.
JANUARY 3: Two people died and 12 sustained injuries in a road accident which occurred on the Umuahia-Enugu Expressway. The crash involved 10 male adults and four female adults, with one male adult confirmed dead on the spot.
JANUARY 3: Suspected Lakurawa bandits attacked Natsini village in Argungu LGA of Kebbi State, killed two police officers and rustled an unspecified number of cows.
JANUARY 3: Two persons were confirmed dead in an auto accident that happened Friday night around Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
JANUARY 3: Three persons died and 18 were severely injured in a gas explosion which occurred in Oroazi community in Port Harcourt.
JANUARY 4: Some unknown gunmen killed two farmers while working on their farms in Odo-Ape community, Kabba-Bunu LGA, Kogi State
JANUARY 4: Six soldiers and 34 terrorists died during a firefight between troops and ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists at Sabin Gari Village in Damboa LGA, Borno State.
JANUARY 4: Security forces and local vigilantes neutralised several bandits estimated at 80 in Jibia LGA of Katsina State
JANUARY 4: Suspected bandits ambushed a village in Lusada LGA of Katsina State, killed four persons including the state’s Acting Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association MACBAN, Amafu Surajo, and kidnapped three persons.
JANUARY 4: Troops of 1 Brigade, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised a notorious terrorist, Sani Russu in Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State.
JANUARY 4: Troops of 1 Brigade, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma during an ambush operation neutralised some terrorists while others sustained fatal injuries at Kwanar Jollof in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State. Number of deaths estimated at 15.
JANUARY 5: No fewer than 18 people were killed in coordinated attacks across several communities in Orsu LGA of Imo State. The killings occurred in Umuhu-Okabia, Eziawa, Ihittenansa, Amaokwu and Amaebu
JANUARY 5: Unknown men killed three sons of a native doctor at Nise community in Awka South LGA of Anambra State.
JANUARY 5: A truck carrying petrol burst into flames in Agbor, Delta State. One person was burnt beyond recognition among the four dead persons and three others were injured. 10 houses including two banks and vehicles around the scene were consumed in the inferno. The explosion occurred when the driver of the 33,000-litre tanker while making a u-turn on the busy Lagos-Benin Road had brake failure. The vehicle fell and exploded.
JANUARY5: Gunmen abducted 46 people, including women and children during a raid in Gana town, Zamfara State
JANUARY 6: Nine people were killed during a cult clash in Owo, Owo LGA of Ondo State.
JANUARY 6: 2 persons died in an IED explosion at Tsangayar Sani Uthman Islamiyya School in Byazhin area of Abuja.
JANUARY 6: A fire outbreak claimed the lives of Rabi’atu Sifawa, daughter of the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bello Sifawa, along with her three children and a house help.
JANUARY 7: Nigerian Army troops shot dead two suspects accused of killing four soldiers on protection duty in Rivers. They were neutralised by troops of 5 Battalion during a raid on their hideout in Kalaogbokolo, Ahoada West LGA, Rivers State.
JANUARY 7: The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, confirmed the death of one male with three others seriously injured in a multiple accident around Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
JANUARY 7: Three individuals tragically lost their lives in Ogbomoso when a container-laden truck lost control and fell on a commercial tricycle at Takie Junction around.
JANUARY 7: Two persons died in an auto accident that occurred on the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway.
JANUARY 7: A tragic road accident occurred on the Benin-Asaba Highway in Delta State, resulting in the loss of five lives, leaving 10 others critically injured. The incident happened on Tuesday night, involving two separate accidents between the Issele-Uku and Onicha-Ugbo axis.
JANUARY 8: Armed Cultists suspected to be members of the Greenlanders, invaded Igbogene Community a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, and killed three persons.
JANUARY 8: Three died and many were injured at Eleyele bus stop in ibadan, oyo state when a truck carrying granite had brake failure and ran into people.
