Terrorists Kidnap 91, Kill 15 Health Workers in Nigeria Over Three Years – Report

A new international conflict monitoring report has revealed that terrorists, armed bandits, and other criminal groups kidnapped 91 health workers and killed 15 across Nigeria between 2023 and 2025, highlighting the growing insecurity facing the country's healthcare sector.

The findings, published in the Care in the Crosshairs: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2025 report by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, documented 101 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel during the three-year period.

According to the report, attacks reached their highest level in 2025, with 43 incidents recorded across 16 states, up from 24 incidents in 2023 and 34 in 2024.

The report said 25 abducted health workers remain missing, while only 10 were confirmed released. It also cited the case of a doctor who was kidnapped in late 2025, released in January 2026, and later killed after returning to work.

Most kidnappings occurred in Nigeria's North-West and North-Central regions, where criminal gangs frequently target victims for ransom. Those abducted included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospital staff, and drivers.

The report also linked attacks to armed militias, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and unidentified gunmen. Healthcare facilities in several states were reportedly raided, looted, or destroyed, while some health workers were killed during attacks inside hospitals.

In Zamfara State, violence intensified significantly, forcing more than 74,000 people to flee their homes between December 2025 and May 2026.

The coalition warned that continued attacks on health facilities are worsening Nigeria's healthcare crisis, especially after the suspension of major international health funding in 2025, which reportedly resulted in the loss of about 28,000 health sector jobs.

The report called for stronger protection of healthcare workers and medical facilities to ensure uninterrupted access to essential health services, particularly in conflict-affected communities.

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