Killings In Nigeria ‘Dangerously Underreported’ – Ex-Presidential Candidate, Olawepo-Hashim

A former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has expressed concern over what he described as the underreporting of mass killings across Nigeria, warning that the growing silence surrounding the bloodshed reflects a dangerous devaluation of human lives.

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Olawepo-Hashim said the recurring attacks in several parts of the country point to a worsening security crisis that is not receiving the level of attention it deserves, both within Nigeria and from the international community.

Naija News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, April 12, 2026, and made available to newsmen, the former presidential candidate lamented that the true scale of the killings was being “dangerously underreported and increasingly normalised.”

Hashim Raises Concern Over Killings In Kebbi

He cited recent attacks in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where more than 40 persons were reportedly killed within the past week.

According to him, local sources indicated that the death toll could rise further as more bodies were still being discovered in the aftermath of the attacks.

He also said several homes were razed during the violence, worsening the suffering of residents in the affected communities.

Olawepo-Hashim added that the same area had earlier come under another attack, which reportedly claimed at least seven lives, describing the repeated assaults as disturbing and largely unchecked.

“What we are witnessing is a pattern of mass killings that fail to sustain national outrage or global attention,” he said.

The politician also drew attention to similar incidents in Kwara State, especially in Kaiama, Baruten and Ifelodun local government areas, where he said between 20 and 50 people were reportedly killed in recent weeks.

He noted that among the victims were five forest guards, adding that many of the incidents received little attention outside local reporting platforms.

According to him, the limited coverage of such deadly attacks reflects a worrying trend in which large-scale killings are no longer treated with the seriousness they deserve.

Olawepo-Hashim further said the violence across the North-Central region remained deeply troubling, pointing to repeated killings in Benue and Plateau states.

He disclosed that Benue State recorded between 50 and 100 deaths within a matter of weeks, while Plateau State witnessed coordinated night attacks that allegedly left between 30 and 80 persons dead.

He added that Niger State and Nasarawa State also recorded fatalities ranging from 20 to 50 and 10 to 20, respectively.

According to him, the cumulative casualty figure across the affected areas may be between 130 and 300 within a short period.

Describing the development as alarming, Olawepo-Hashim said the killings were being met with “selective attention and dangerous silence” by the international community.

He criticised what he described as the muted response of global institutions, including the United Nations and the African Union, despite the scale of the attacks being reported in parts of the country.

According to him, the silence has continued to fuel concerns that the lives of Nigerians are no longer receiving the value they deserve in moments of national tragedy.

“There is a growing perception that Nigerian lives have been so devalued that even routine expressions of condolence are no longer made,” he said.