A human rights organisation, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has claimed that over 100,000 Nigerians lost their lives in the hands of security agencies within the past eight years.

According to the group, the most affected states are: Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Kaduna, Abia, Borno, Ebonyi, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Taraba, Niger, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, among others.

The group claimed the figure was obtained through its review of activities of security agencies covering the period between August 2015 to December 2023.

It said the killings would have been prevented if the massively deployed security forces had heeded several early warnings and acted securely and unbiased.

This was contained in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday.

The statement was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Intersociety Board Chairman, Chidinma Udegbunam, Head, Campaign and Publicity and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.

The group claimed that “over 100,000 unarmed and defenceless citizens of Nigeria have died directly or indirectly outside the law in the hands of the Nigerian security forces.

It said the deaths were recorded in 28 major operations “during which tens of thousands were deadly tortured and secretly held without fair and evidence-based trial.”

Intersociety added that several thousands of others permanently disappeared during custodial abductions and incarcerations.