The following memo analyzes data for the focus states of Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta for February 2017.

There were 29 incidents of Violence Affecting Women and Girls (VAWG) reported from all NSRP Observatory sources in February 2017. The Jama’atu Ahli Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) insurgency continued to play a role in the majority of reported incidents in Borno state. Consistent with previous months, many of these incidents involved female suicide bombers. Reports this month throughout the eight states related to insecurity, with kidnappings, crime and cult activity as the most salient reported issues within this category.

Kano state had the highest number of VAWG-related reports this month, with seven incidents, followed by Plateau and Borno states with six incidents each, and Kaduna state with five incidents. The Niger Delta region reported three incidents in Rivers, two incidents in Bayelsa and one in Delta, mostly related to criminal and cult violence. Three incidents of violence affecting boys were also reported by NSRP Observatory sources during the month, two in Borno state and one in Kano.