This is according to a report by Global Rights, an international non-governmental organisation championing human rights capacity building.

The report shows that 3,188 Nigerians, including 2,707 civilians and 481 security operatives were killed.

The report, presented to journalists by a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu and a co-convener of the Bring-Back-Our-Girls campaigner, Aisha Yesufu, said this was due to violent incidents in the country.

The reports showed Borno State topping the casualty figure list with 728; while Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Taraba recorded 450, 280, 254 and 181 respectively.

An in-depth analysis of the report showed that violence-related deaths were recorded in every state in Nigeria with Abia notably the least impacted, with one death recorded.

In March, at least 276 people were killed in violent incidents across the nation, these occurred largely with the background ofthe state level elections which were held that month, and relatedly, about 45% of these deaths were incidental to this, #NigeriaMassAtrocitiesReport by Global Rights NG (@Globalrightsng) had posted on its Twitter handle on February 12, 2020.

In February, at least 238 persons died. A fair number of the violent incidences nationwide were attributable to the acrimoniously contested Presidential elections.

Disaggregated, at least: 213 civilians 21 soldiers and 4 police officers were killed, it further stated.

According to the organisation, it said, “our tracking of casualties of conflicts, violent clashes and extrajudicial killings across Nigeria for 2019 informs that at 3188 lives were lost between January and December 2019 as a result of violent incidents.

In April, at least 412 persons were killed. In that month, we observed a shocking rise in the number of deaths resulting from the menace of ‘bandits’ that had widened their dragnets beyond Zamfara, Katsina, and Katsina states to other parts of the North, distressing residents, it added.

As Nigerian citizens, we must get into the habit of demanding good governance from our elected representatives.

3188 Nigerian citizens were killed in 2019 via mass atrocities those lives deserve justice and accountability. (Channels TV)

• Photo shows Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and Co-Convener of the Bring-Back-Our-Girls Campaigner, Aisha Yesufu