The United States (U.S.) Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has disclosed that terrorists, Islamic fundamentalists and bandits killed 8,279 Nigerians in 2020.

The USCIRF, an independent government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyse and report threats to religious freedom globally, stated that the number reflected those killed in northern Nigeria.

The report also showed that security challenges slowed down the country’s economic growth and development.

“This is especially while Nigeria battles with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts that claimed many lives. Borno, which has been the epicenter of Boko Haram terrorism for over a decade, claimed 3,005 persons.

“In Kaduna, 1,026 persons were killed, Katsina recorded 876 deaths, while Zamfara and Niger states lost 845 and 236 citizens in 2020,” the report stated.