Expectations and Results In the first quarter of 2021, Nigeria witnessed cascading violence and conflict across the board. Adding to existing security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping violence, gang wars and communal clashes, new violent vistas has intensified. Across southern Nigeria, multiple attacks on security outfits and gunmen violence have been recorded. In northern Nigeria, reports of terrorist attacks, incursions and gunmen violence have been widespread. The appointment of new service chiefs in January 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari offered rays of hope. The new service chiefs came with fresh ambitions to tackle Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. In April 2021, a new acting inspector general of police was also appointed. However, the hopes that trailed the appointments do not reflect on peace and security in the country. There is a noticeable increase in widespread violence and conflict when compared to the last quarter of the year 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, about 724 people were killed and 802 kidnapped in 336 incidents, according to Nextier SPD’s violent conflict database. Meanwhile, in the last quarter of 2020, 384 people were killed, 510 persons kidnapped in 256 incidents. The statistics portray an increasing wave of violence despite new appointments and commitments.