Gunmen have killed at least 29 people in northeastern Nigeria, a state governor said Monday, with locals saying the attackers targeted young people gathered at a football pitch, the latest bout of deadly unrest in Africa's most populous nation.
The attack on Sunday occurred in Adamawa state, which borders Cameroon and is a hotspot for violence by jihadists and local criminal gangs. Communal violence over land is also rife in the state.
The latest attack comes as Nigeria's security crisis is increasingly under scrutiny – both abroad and at home as general elections are less than a year away.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited the scene of the Sunday attack and "confirmed that no fewer than 29 people were killed in a deadly attack on Guyaku community in Gombi Local Government Area", his spokesman said in a post on social media.
Locals also gave a similar toll.
Resident Philip Agabus told AFP that the attack occurred when "our people converged at a football pitch in Guyaku community ... [and] were attacked by insurgents who entered with guns and began shooting randomly".
The dead were "youths, including some ladies that were watching football", another local, Joshua Usman, said.
"They also burnt places of worship, houses and motorcycles," added Usman.
The state governor's office wrote that "the attackers operated for several hours, killing dozens of residents, burning places of worship, and destroying property including motorcycles", citing a local community leader, Aggrey Ali.
Local television showed footage of a burned church and several charred motor cycles.
The governor blamed the Boko Haram militants who are active in the northeast of Nigeria.
But a rival group, the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it "killed at least 25 ... Christians", and "torched a church and nearly 100 motorcycles", in a statement reported by the SITE monitoring group.
Fintiri condemned the attack, saying "it will not go unpunished" while he vowed "intensifying security operations immediately to restore peace".
Since 2009, the jihadist insurgency in Nigeria, led primarily by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the ISWAP, has left tens of thousands of people dead and millions displaced in the country's northeast, according to the United Nations.
The jihadist conflict has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Nigeria is now looking to the United States for technical and training support for its troops fighting the jihadists after a resurgence of violence strained relationships between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump said last October that Christianity was facing an "existential threat" in the West African nation. Security experts say that both Muslim and Christian communities are targeted by armed groups.
A separate attack occurred Sunday in a another district more 100 kilometres away which a local community blamed on communal clashes over farmland disputes in several villages in Lamurde area.
"Lives were lost, properties were also lost," Bulus Daniel, local government council chairman for Lamurde area told AFP.
Showing posts with label Violence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Violence. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Gunmen raid Nigerian orphanage and kidnap children
Eight children are still missing after gunmen raided an unregistered orphanage in Nigeria's north-central Kogi State and kidnapped 23, authorities have said.
Kogi's information commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said 15 children were rescued due to the "prompt and coordinated response" of security agencies.
Sunday's attack also saw the owner of the facility taken, he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security sources say the state has a functional Boko Haram cell, and that there have been several violent attacks in the area.
Nigeria is also grappling with a kidnap crisis in many parts of the country, with criminal gangs abducting people for ransoms. The government has made paying ransoms illegal but this has not prevented the kidnappings.
"The government remains fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all the victims," Fanwo said.
His statement on Monday also highlighted that the orphanage was "operating illegally" in a "bushy environment" without the knowledge of relevant authorities.
Fanwo urged operators of orphanages, schools, and similar institutions to always engage appropriately with the appropriate government agencies "especially in the current security climate".
Mass kidnappings in schools are not uncommon in Nigeria, especially in the country's northern region which is currently plagued by insecurity. This is the first time an orphanage has been targeted.
In November 2025, more than 300 students and their teachers were abducted from one Catholic Secondary School in Niger State, also in the north central region of Nigeria.
They were released in two batches with the last group regaining freedom more than one month after.
The government denied reports that any ransom had been paid, or that two Boko Haram commanders had been freed as part of the deal.
By Chukwunaeme Obiejesi, BBC
Kogi's information commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said 15 children were rescued due to the "prompt and coordinated response" of security agencies.
Sunday's attack also saw the owner of the facility taken, he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security sources say the state has a functional Boko Haram cell, and that there have been several violent attacks in the area.
Nigeria is also grappling with a kidnap crisis in many parts of the country, with criminal gangs abducting people for ransoms. The government has made paying ransoms illegal but this has not prevented the kidnappings.
"The government remains fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all the victims," Fanwo said.
His statement on Monday also highlighted that the orphanage was "operating illegally" in a "bushy environment" without the knowledge of relevant authorities.
Fanwo urged operators of orphanages, schools, and similar institutions to always engage appropriately with the appropriate government agencies "especially in the current security climate".
Mass kidnappings in schools are not uncommon in Nigeria, especially in the country's northern region which is currently plagued by insecurity. This is the first time an orphanage has been targeted.
In November 2025, more than 300 students and their teachers were abducted from one Catholic Secondary School in Niger State, also in the north central region of Nigeria.
They were released in two batches with the last group regaining freedom more than one month after.
The government denied reports that any ransom had been paid, or that two Boko Haram commanders had been freed as part of the deal.
Monday, April 20, 2026
Gunmen abduct 15 passengers on Nigerian waterways
The police have confirmed the abduction of 15 passengers on the Calabar-Oron waterways.
Some gunmen, on Friday, ambushed a ferry travelling from Calabar, Cross River State, to Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and abducted the passengers, the News Agency of Nigeria quoted an unnamed naval officer as saying.
The police spokesperson in Cross River, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the abduction in a statement to reporters on Monday.
“The command is working in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Command and the Navy.
“Coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations are currently ongoing to ensure the safe recovery of the victims and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators,” Mr Eitokpah, an assistant superintendent of police, said in the statement.
There have been frequent abductions of passengers on Calabar-Oron waterways lately, especially as Nigerians have resorted to travel by water because the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway is dilapidated.
The latest incident occurred seven months after 17 passengers were abducted in September 2025 on the same waterways.
Also, gunmen, in April 2025, abducted 20 passengers who were travelling in a boat from Oron to Calabar.
Abduction for ransom has become a prevalent crime in many Nigerian cities, with just anyone, including students and clerics, as targets.
Some gunmen, on Friday, ambushed a ferry travelling from Calabar, Cross River State, to Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and abducted the passengers, the News Agency of Nigeria quoted an unnamed naval officer as saying.
The police spokesperson in Cross River, Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the abduction in a statement to reporters on Monday.
“The command is working in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom Command and the Navy.
“Coordinated search-and-rescue and tactical operations are currently ongoing to ensure the safe recovery of the victims and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators,” Mr Eitokpah, an assistant superintendent of police, said in the statement.
There have been frequent abductions of passengers on Calabar-Oron waterways lately, especially as Nigerians have resorted to travel by water because the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway is dilapidated.
The latest incident occurred seven months after 17 passengers were abducted in September 2025 on the same waterways.
Also, gunmen, in April 2025, abducted 20 passengers who were travelling in a boat from Oron to Calabar.
Abduction for ransom has become a prevalent crime in many Nigerian cities, with just anyone, including students and clerics, as targets.
Related story: Gunmen kidnap students heading to exams in Nigeria
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Nigeria begins mass trial of 500 terrorism suspects
Nigeria has begun the prosecution of more than 500 people accused of involvement in militant attacks in one of the country's largest ever terrorism trials.
The suspects face charges linked to aiding and abetting terrorism, particularly in the north-east where an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist group began 17 years ago.
Since then insecurity has spread to many other areas of the West African nation, leaving communities, often those in rural areas, at the mercy of mushrooming militant groups and gangs that kidnap for ransom.
The mass trial opened on Tuesday at a high court in the capital, Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges, according to the attorney general.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives in bombings and various attacks across Nigeria this year alone.
Very few people are ever prosecuted over terror attacks - and suspects are often detained and spend years in custody without facing trial.
According to the AFP news agency, gunmen killed at least 20 people on Wednesday in the western state of Niger. Residents say the attackers raided villages in Shiroro district, an area where kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants are known to operate.
Security was tight during the court session on Tuesday, with suspects transported in heavily guarded convoys under military, police and intelligence supervision.
International observers, including human rights groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, were also present in court.
The defendants are alleged to have taken part in attacks mainly in northern Nigeria, while others face charges of supporting militants through funding, supplying arms and logistics.
Five of the accused have already been given varying jail terms - from seven to 20 years - after pleading guilty to charges that included selling livestock, supplying food and information to militant groups.
Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation showed the government's resolve to deal with the matter.
"The federal government is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice," he said.
Security expert Bashir Galma, a retired army major, told the BBC that the trial, which is expected to continue in phases, was a "positive development" and a "significant milestone" in Nigeria's fight against terrorism.
"For years Nigerians have been complaining about why they keep these suspects [in custody] instead of making them face the law for what they are suspected of doing," he said.
"This will bring some level of peace for people whose loved ones were killed or injured."
The trial would also dispelled rumours that suspects were routinely released after arrest "so that they can go back to their terrorism business", the analyst added.
However, he predicted that some of the accused could be released soon, given that they were arrested many years ago - a factor he said the judges would likely take into consideration.
By Mansur Abubakar and Chris Ewokor, BBC
The suspects face charges linked to aiding and abetting terrorism, particularly in the north-east where an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist group began 17 years ago.
Since then insecurity has spread to many other areas of the West African nation, leaving communities, often those in rural areas, at the mercy of mushrooming militant groups and gangs that kidnap for ransom.
The mass trial opened on Tuesday at a high court in the capital, Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges, according to the attorney general.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives in bombings and various attacks across Nigeria this year alone.
Very few people are ever prosecuted over terror attacks - and suspects are often detained and spend years in custody without facing trial.
According to the AFP news agency, gunmen killed at least 20 people on Wednesday in the western state of Niger. Residents say the attackers raided villages in Shiroro district, an area where kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants are known to operate.
Security was tight during the court session on Tuesday, with suspects transported in heavily guarded convoys under military, police and intelligence supervision.
International observers, including human rights groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, were also present in court.
The defendants are alleged to have taken part in attacks mainly in northern Nigeria, while others face charges of supporting militants through funding, supplying arms and logistics.
Five of the accused have already been given varying jail terms - from seven to 20 years - after pleading guilty to charges that included selling livestock, supplying food and information to militant groups.
Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation showed the government's resolve to deal with the matter.
"The federal government is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice," he said.
Security expert Bashir Galma, a retired army major, told the BBC that the trial, which is expected to continue in phases, was a "positive development" and a "significant milestone" in Nigeria's fight against terrorism.
"For years Nigerians have been complaining about why they keep these suspects [in custody] instead of making them face the law for what they are suspected of doing," he said.
"This will bring some level of peace for people whose loved ones were killed or injured."
The trial would also dispelled rumours that suspects were routinely released after arrest "so that they can go back to their terrorism business", the analyst added.
However, he predicted that some of the accused could be released soon, given that they were arrested many years ago - a factor he said the judges would likely take into consideration.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
20 Killed, Multiple Abducted in Northwest Nigeria Village Raids
Armed men in Nigeria killed at least 20 people, including security guards, and abducted an unknown number after attacking villages in northwestern Niger state, police and residents said late on Tuesday, the latest violence plaguing the north of the country.
Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said gunmen invaded Bagna and Erena villages on Tuesday and, when security responded, two community guards and a driver were killed and others injured.
But residents said at least 20 people were killed and that the attackers, who also destroyed homes, operated for several hours and overwhelmed security personnel in the area.
Some villagers fled to the nearby towns of Gwada Zumba and Galadima Kogo, the residents said.
Insecurity is Nigeria's biggest problem and President Bola Tinubu is pushing to allow Nigeria's 36 states to establish their own police to help curb the violence.
The attack happened in Niger's Shiroro district, where kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants are known to operate.
Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said gunmen invaded Bagna and Erena villages on Tuesday and, when security responded, two community guards and a driver were killed and others injured.
But residents said at least 20 people were killed and that the attackers, who also destroyed homes, operated for several hours and overwhelmed security personnel in the area.
Some villagers fled to the nearby towns of Gwada Zumba and Galadima Kogo, the residents said.
Insecurity is Nigeria's biggest problem and President Bola Tinubu is pushing to allow Nigeria's 36 states to establish their own police to help curb the violence.
Related story: Dozens killed in Easter attacks in Nigeria
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Locals dispute Nigerian army claim of 31 rescued after Easter attack
Residents of a Nigerian community have disputed the army's assertion that it rescued 31 civilians held hostage following a Sunday morning church attack in the north.
The army had said that it freed the civilians seized by gunmen who had raided a church in Ariko, Kaduna state, during Easter celebrations. The authorities said five civilians had been killed, but a local church official put the number of dead at seven.
But the president of the Ariko community association, Joseph Ariko, told the BBC that the captives were still unaccounted for, and asked the army to name the rescued. "As far as we are concerned, all the abducted victims are still with the bandits."
The army has not yet responded.
It had said that soldiers engaged the attackers in a "fierce firefight", forcing them to flee and leave the hostages and the bodies of the dead victims behind.
Attacks and kidnappings for ransom are common occurrences in northern Nigeria, as the country grapples with security threats from jihadist groups and armed gangs, locally known as bandits.
Although the army said it responded swiftly to Sunday's attack, local media report that residents said the gunmen operated for a long time without facing resistance.
On Monday, Rev John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria questioned the rescue claims after speaking with residents.
"Nobody has been rescued… If they are rescued, where did they take them to?" he told the BBC.
As a result of the firefight, officials had said the "fleeing terrorists" had "significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes".
Troops had also been deployed to hunt the insurgents and reinforce security.
The army urged residents to share information that can support operations against groups fuelling insecurity across the country.
In a separate incident, Nigeria's military killed 65 bandits following an offensive in Zamfara state, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday, days after a large group of bandits abducted residents from villages in the state.
Police had on Saturday confirmed that there had been a mass abduction in villages in the state earlier in the week and a manhunt had been launched.
Late last year, the administration of US President Donald Trump raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria - and urged the government to do more to improve security and strengthen protection for Christian communities.
Trump had previously claimed there was a "Christian genocide" under way in Nigeria - an allegation strongly rejected by Nigeria's government, which said Muslims, Christians and people of no faith were victims of attacks.
In February, US troops were deployed to Nigeria to train its forces and help them with intelligence in their fight against Islamist militants and other armed groups.
By Makuochi Okafor and Paul Njie, BBC
The army had said that it freed the civilians seized by gunmen who had raided a church in Ariko, Kaduna state, during Easter celebrations. The authorities said five civilians had been killed, but a local church official put the number of dead at seven.
But the president of the Ariko community association, Joseph Ariko, told the BBC that the captives were still unaccounted for, and asked the army to name the rescued. "As far as we are concerned, all the abducted victims are still with the bandits."
The army has not yet responded.
It had said that soldiers engaged the attackers in a "fierce firefight", forcing them to flee and leave the hostages and the bodies of the dead victims behind.
Attacks and kidnappings for ransom are common occurrences in northern Nigeria, as the country grapples with security threats from jihadist groups and armed gangs, locally known as bandits.
Although the army said it responded swiftly to Sunday's attack, local media report that residents said the gunmen operated for a long time without facing resistance.
On Monday, Rev John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria questioned the rescue claims after speaking with residents.
"Nobody has been rescued… If they are rescued, where did they take them to?" he told the BBC.
As a result of the firefight, officials had said the "fleeing terrorists" had "significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes".
Troops had also been deployed to hunt the insurgents and reinforce security.
The army urged residents to share information that can support operations against groups fuelling insecurity across the country.
In a separate incident, Nigeria's military killed 65 bandits following an offensive in Zamfara state, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday, days after a large group of bandits abducted residents from villages in the state.
Police had on Saturday confirmed that there had been a mass abduction in villages in the state earlier in the week and a manhunt had been launched.
Late last year, the administration of US President Donald Trump raised concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria - and urged the government to do more to improve security and strengthen protection for Christian communities.
Trump had previously claimed there was a "Christian genocide" under way in Nigeria - an allegation strongly rejected by Nigeria's government, which said Muslims, Christians and people of no faith were victims of attacks.
In February, US troops were deployed to Nigeria to train its forces and help them with intelligence in their fight against Islamist militants and other armed groups.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Gunmen kill at least 30 in Nigeria's Plateau state attack
Gunmen attacked a university community in Nigeria's central Plateau state on Sunday night, killing at least 30 people, residents and local officials said on Monday, the latest bloodshed in a region scarred by deadly farmer-herder conflicts.
Violence in central Nigeria, known as the Middle Belt, is often painted as ethno-religious between mainly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. But many experts and politicians say climate change and expanding agriculture stoke competition for land, leading to conflicts regardless of faith or ethnicity.
Markus Audu Kando, a resident and co-chair of Plateau youth interfaith group said by phone: "As I speak with you, the figure is now 30 ... There are injured people at the hospital, but I cannot confirm their number."
Residents said the gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba district and shot at people indiscriminately.
The Plateau state government said the gunmen were unknown and imposed a 48-hour curfew in the district. The University of Jos suspended examinations due to start on Monday.
“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people. We have counted scores of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving treatment,” Paul Mancha, a resident and chairperson of the youth council in Plateau, said earlier.
U.S. President Donald Trump last November re-designated Nigeria "a country of particular concern" saying Christians were being targeted and authorities were failing to protect them, which the Nigerian government denies.
Violence in central Nigeria, known as the Middle Belt, is often painted as ethno-religious between mainly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. But many experts and politicians say climate change and expanding agriculture stoke competition for land, leading to conflicts regardless of faith or ethnicity.
Markus Audu Kando, a resident and co-chair of Plateau youth interfaith group said by phone: "As I speak with you, the figure is now 30 ... There are injured people at the hospital, but I cannot confirm their number."
Residents said the gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba district and shot at people indiscriminately.
The Plateau state government said the gunmen were unknown and imposed a 48-hour curfew in the district. The University of Jos suspended examinations due to start on Monday.
“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people. We have counted scores of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving treatment,” Paul Mancha, a resident and chairperson of the youth council in Plateau, said earlier.
U.S. President Donald Trump last November re-designated Nigeria "a country of particular concern" saying Christians were being targeted and authorities were failing to protect them, which the Nigerian government denies.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Gunmen kill at least 20 in nighttime attack in Nigeria
A night attack on a community in Nigeria ’s north-central region left at least 20 people dead, residents and authorities said.
The attack occurred on Sunday night in Gari Ya Waye community in the Jos North area of Plateau state, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state commissioner for information, said in a statement. She did not give the number of casualties, but said there was “loss of lives” and injured.
The state government imposed a 48-hour curfew to prevent further attacks, Ramnap said.
No group has claimed responsibility but residents told The Associated Press that many gunmen on bikes shot sporadically into the community.
Ibukun Falodun, a resident, said that 20 people were confirmed dead.
Attacks in Plateau State are part of a long-running cycle of violence in north-central Nigeria, where disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes. Criminal gangs are also active.
The attack occurred on Sunday night in Gari Ya Waye community in the Jos North area of Plateau state, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state commissioner for information, said in a statement. She did not give the number of casualties, but said there was “loss of lives” and injured.
The state government imposed a 48-hour curfew to prevent further attacks, Ramnap said.
No group has claimed responsibility but residents told The Associated Press that many gunmen on bikes shot sporadically into the community.
Ibukun Falodun, a resident, said that 20 people were confirmed dead.
Attacks in Plateau State are part of a long-running cycle of violence in north-central Nigeria, where disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes. Criminal gangs are also active.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Nigeria strengthens security after Maiduguri bombings
Nigeria is on high alert after suicide bombings in Maiduguri killed at least 23 people and injured more than 100 on Monday evening. Authorities have deployed additional troops, with Boko Haram insurgents suspected to have carried out the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility.
Related story: Nigeria suicide attacks kill 23, wound more than 100
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Gunmen kill at least 15 in attacks on two villages in northwestern Nigeria
Gunmen killed at least 15 people on Tuesday during attacks on two villages in northwestern Nigeria, authorities said.
The villages of Falale and Kadobe — neighbouring communities in the Jibia area of Katsina State — were attacked in the early afternoon, according to Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Mu’azu said local security forces had previously killed three gunmen during a firefight in the area. In retaliation, gunmen carried out a reprisal assault on Tuesday that left at least 15 people dead.
“Security forces have since restored order and stabilized the situation,” he said in a statement. “We appeal to residents to remain calm and allow security forces to complete their investigation.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Armed groups, known as ‘bandits’, regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and north-central part of Nigeria.
Authorities have said the bandit groups include mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over increasingly strained resources.
Alongside attacks by bandits, Nigeria is also plagued by an insurgency fought by the Boko Haram extremist group and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Both groups are mostly active in northeastern Nigeria.
On Monday, suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people and wounded 108 others in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.
The security crisis in Africa’s most populous country has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighbouring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.
Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.
The U.S. sent troops last month to the West African nation to help advise its military on the fight against insecurity.
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
The villages of Falale and Kadobe — neighbouring communities in the Jibia area of Katsina State — were attacked in the early afternoon, according to Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Mu’azu said local security forces had previously killed three gunmen during a firefight in the area. In retaliation, gunmen carried out a reprisal assault on Tuesday that left at least 15 people dead.
“Security forces have since restored order and stabilized the situation,” he said in a statement. “We appeal to residents to remain calm and allow security forces to complete their investigation.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Armed groups, known as ‘bandits’, regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and north-central part of Nigeria.
Authorities have said the bandit groups include mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over increasingly strained resources.
Alongside attacks by bandits, Nigeria is also plagued by an insurgency fought by the Boko Haram extremist group and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Both groups are mostly active in northeastern Nigeria.
On Monday, suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people and wounded 108 others in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.
The security crisis in Africa’s most populous country has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighbouring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.
Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.
The U.S. sent troops last month to the West African nation to help advise its military on the fight against insecurity.
Friday, March 6, 2026
How Nigeria spent over N8bn on abducted school children in a decade
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has continued to place school children among the most vulnerable targets of criminal gangs.
SBM Intelligence reveals a new analysis, showing that Governments in Nigeria have paid nearly N8 billion in ransom linked to school abductions between 2014 and 2025, reinforcing a cycle that continues to make schools attractive targets for armed groups.
The analysis, entitled “Monkey Business: Timeline of Nigeria’s Government Funding of School Abductions (2014–2025)”, tracks publicly reported ransom payments made by federal and state authorities following major school kidnapping incidents across the country.
The timeline shows how ransom payments have gradually become embedded in the response to mass abductions, even though Nigerian law formally prohibits negotiating with kidnappers.
The timeline begins with the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, after which the federal government reportedly paid N5 billion as part of negotiations.
In 2018, another set of 276 school girls were kidnapped in Yobe, and an undisclosed ransom was paid.
In 2020, 275 school girls were kidnapped in Katsina State and the Government paid N30 million, while in 2021, in Niger State 200 girls were abducted and the government paid N50 million, the same year in Niger State another 42 girls were abducted and a ransom of N15 million was paid.
In Kaduna State 39 school girls were kidnapped in 2021, and the sum of N32 million was paid, and in Zamfara in the same year 279 were kidnapped and N60 million paid.
In 2024, Kaduna State witnessed another school children abduction with 287 kidnapped and a ransom of N1 billion paid and in 2025, 327 school children were abducted in Niger State and the government paid N2 billion.
SB Morgen Intelligence report shows that more than N8 billion has been expended through ransom payments, security operations, negotiations, and emergency responses following a wave of mass school kidnappings that has shaken communities and disrupted education nationwide.
In Febrauary 2026, an AFP investigation report alleged that the Nigerian Government paid a huge ransom estimated at N2 billion or up to $7 million, to secure the release of 230 pupils abducted from St, Mary Catholic School in November 2025.
Intelligence sources told AFP the money was flown by helicopter to Boko Haram commander, Ali Ngulde in Gwoza, with two militant commanders freed as part of the deal.
The Government has strongly denied the claims. However, there is a history, since 2014, Nigerian governments have paid nearly N6 billion ($4.4million) in confirmed ransom payments to armed groups for kidnapped school children.
Federal and State Authorities both participated, despite laws prohibiting such payments. Each ransom funds the next abduction, turning education into a target and ensuring the cycle of violence continues.
Ike Chilaka-Osuagwu, an Educationist, described the scenario as worrisome, and a point to the fact that the government lacks the political will to curb banditry and kidnapping, especially against school children in the country.
Besides, he emphasised that as far as the Government continues to divert resources to pay ransom, economic development will continue to elude the country.
“The Government lacks the political will to end this nonsense. It will continue to affect productivity, and encourage diversion of funds and energy required to improve the economy,” he said.
Abductions are a long-standing pattern in Nigeria. Between July 2023 and June 2024 alone, SBM Intelligence, an Africa-centric security analysis and strategic consulting firm, found that at least 7,568 people were kidnapped in 1,130 cases across the country.
During this period, the kidnappers demanded approximately N11 billion (about $7.5 million) as ransom, and received N1 billion (about $0.65 million).
This is despite the fact that the Nigerian Senate outlawed ransom payments to kidnappers in 2022 and made abduction punishable by death.
According to the report, all these payments illustrate how kidnapping for ransom has evolved into a structured criminal economy targeting schools in the country.
SBM Intelligence reveals a new analysis, showing that Governments in Nigeria have paid nearly N8 billion in ransom linked to school abductions between 2014 and 2025, reinforcing a cycle that continues to make schools attractive targets for armed groups.
The analysis, entitled “Monkey Business: Timeline of Nigeria’s Government Funding of School Abductions (2014–2025)”, tracks publicly reported ransom payments made by federal and state authorities following major school kidnapping incidents across the country.
The timeline shows how ransom payments have gradually become embedded in the response to mass abductions, even though Nigerian law formally prohibits negotiating with kidnappers.
The timeline begins with the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, after which the federal government reportedly paid N5 billion as part of negotiations.
In 2018, another set of 276 school girls were kidnapped in Yobe, and an undisclosed ransom was paid.
In 2020, 275 school girls were kidnapped in Katsina State and the Government paid N30 million, while in 2021, in Niger State 200 girls were abducted and the government paid N50 million, the same year in Niger State another 42 girls were abducted and a ransom of N15 million was paid.
In Kaduna State 39 school girls were kidnapped in 2021, and the sum of N32 million was paid, and in Zamfara in the same year 279 were kidnapped and N60 million paid.
In 2024, Kaduna State witnessed another school children abduction with 287 kidnapped and a ransom of N1 billion paid and in 2025, 327 school children were abducted in Niger State and the government paid N2 billion.
SB Morgen Intelligence report shows that more than N8 billion has been expended through ransom payments, security operations, negotiations, and emergency responses following a wave of mass school kidnappings that has shaken communities and disrupted education nationwide.
In Febrauary 2026, an AFP investigation report alleged that the Nigerian Government paid a huge ransom estimated at N2 billion or up to $7 million, to secure the release of 230 pupils abducted from St, Mary Catholic School in November 2025.
Intelligence sources told AFP the money was flown by helicopter to Boko Haram commander, Ali Ngulde in Gwoza, with two militant commanders freed as part of the deal.
The Government has strongly denied the claims. However, there is a history, since 2014, Nigerian governments have paid nearly N6 billion ($4.4million) in confirmed ransom payments to armed groups for kidnapped school children.
Federal and State Authorities both participated, despite laws prohibiting such payments. Each ransom funds the next abduction, turning education into a target and ensuring the cycle of violence continues.
Ike Chilaka-Osuagwu, an Educationist, described the scenario as worrisome, and a point to the fact that the government lacks the political will to curb banditry and kidnapping, especially against school children in the country.
Besides, he emphasised that as far as the Government continues to divert resources to pay ransom, economic development will continue to elude the country.
“The Government lacks the political will to end this nonsense. It will continue to affect productivity, and encourage diversion of funds and energy required to improve the economy,” he said.
Abductions are a long-standing pattern in Nigeria. Between July 2023 and June 2024 alone, SBM Intelligence, an Africa-centric security analysis and strategic consulting firm, found that at least 7,568 people were kidnapped in 1,130 cases across the country.
During this period, the kidnappers demanded approximately N11 billion (about $7.5 million) as ransom, and received N1 billion (about $0.65 million).
This is despite the fact that the Nigerian Senate outlawed ransom payments to kidnappers in 2022 and made abduction punishable by death.
According to the report, all these payments illustrate how kidnapping for ransom has evolved into a structured criminal economy targeting schools in the country.
By Charles Ogwo, Business Day
Monday, February 23, 2026
Attackers kill at least 50, abduct women and children in Nigeria’s Zamfara state
At least 50 people were killed and several women and children abducted after armed men attacked a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, a state lawmaker told Reuters last weekend.
Hamisu A. Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south, said the attackers raided Tungan Dutse village from around 5 p.m. on Thursday until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee.
“They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru told Reuters by phone.
He said the number of abducted victims was yet to be determined. Traditional leaders and local government officials were still accounting for the missing.
A Zamfara state police spokesperson did not respond to calls seeking comment.
Abdullahi Sani, 41, a resident of Tungan Dutse, said three family members were killed in the attack.
“No one slept yesterday, we are all in pain,” he said.
A day earlier, residents contacted security forces and local authority when they saw more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men. But the warning was ignored, Sani said.
Insecurity is a pressing concern in Nigeria and the government is under mounting pressure to restore stability.
There has been a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits”, who have carried out deadly assaults, abductions for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria.
Hamisu A. Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south, said the attackers raided Tungan Dutse village from around 5 p.m. on Thursday until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee.
“They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru told Reuters by phone.
He said the number of abducted victims was yet to be determined. Traditional leaders and local government officials were still accounting for the missing.
A Zamfara state police spokesperson did not respond to calls seeking comment.
Abdullahi Sani, 41, a resident of Tungan Dutse, said three family members were killed in the attack.
“No one slept yesterday, we are all in pain,” he said.
A day earlier, residents contacted security forces and local authority when they saw more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men. But the warning was ignored, Sani said.
Insecurity is a pressing concern in Nigeria and the government is under mounting pressure to restore stability.
There has been a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits”, who have carried out deadly assaults, abductions for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Desperation pushes communities in Nigeria to seal peace pacts with armed gangs
In northern Nigeria's Katsina state, persistent insecurity has led some communities to take drastic measures. A recent attack in a town occurred despite a local peace agreement with armed groups, highlighting the fragility of such deals. While authorities like the police do not endorse these arrangements, they reflect the extreme steps residents are taking to protect themselves when formal security measures fall short. CGTN explores this complex reality on the ground.
US to deploy 200 troops to train Nigerian forces in fight against terrorists
The United States will deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to train its armed forces in their fight against terror groups, Nigerian and US officials said on Tuesday, as Washington increases military cooperation with the West African country.
"We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support," Major General Samaila Uba, a spokesperson for Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, told AFP.
The Wall Street Journal reported the deployment, which will supplement a small US team already in the country to aid the Nigerians with air strike targeting.
The additional troops, expected to arrive in the coming weeks, will provide "training and technical guidance," including by helping their Nigerian counterparts coordinate operations that involve air strikes and ground troops simultaneously, the US daily said.
A US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed the details of the report to AFP.
Nigeria has been under diplomatic pressure from the United States over insecurity in the country, which US President Donald Trump has characterised as "persecution" and "genocide" against Christians.
Although there are instances where Christians are specifically targeted, Muslims are also killed en masse, with Trump's senior adviser on Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos saying last year Boko Haram and Daesh "are killing more Muslims than Christians."
Abuja rejects allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, a framing long used by the US religious right.
So do independent analysts, who point to a broader state failure to curb violence from these groups and armed gangs across swaths of sparsely governed countryside.
Despite the diplomatic pressure, Nigeria and the United States have found common ground in increasing military collaboration.
The US targeted terrorists in northwest Sokoto state with strikes in December, in a joint operation with Nigeria, officials from both countries said.
Going forward, the US military has said it will supply intelligence for Nigerian air strikes and work to expedite arms purchases.
While the 200-troop deployment represents a scaling up of that collaboration, "US troops aren't going to be involved in direct combat or operations," Uba told the Journal.
Nigeria requested the additional assistance, he added.
Africa's most populous country is battling a long-running insurgency concentrated in its northeast, while non-ideological "bandit" gangs conduct kidnappings for ransom and loot villages in the northwest.
Nigeria insecurity persists despite US military deployment
"We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support," Major General Samaila Uba, a spokesperson for Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, told AFP.
The Wall Street Journal reported the deployment, which will supplement a small US team already in the country to aid the Nigerians with air strike targeting.
The additional troops, expected to arrive in the coming weeks, will provide "training and technical guidance," including by helping their Nigerian counterparts coordinate operations that involve air strikes and ground troops simultaneously, the US daily said.
A US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed the details of the report to AFP.
Nigeria has been under diplomatic pressure from the United States over insecurity in the country, which US President Donald Trump has characterised as "persecution" and "genocide" against Christians.
Although there are instances where Christians are specifically targeted, Muslims are also killed en masse, with Trump's senior adviser on Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos saying last year Boko Haram and Daesh "are killing more Muslims than Christians."
Abuja rejects allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, a framing long used by the US religious right.
So do independent analysts, who point to a broader state failure to curb violence from these groups and armed gangs across swaths of sparsely governed countryside.
Despite the diplomatic pressure, Nigeria and the United States have found common ground in increasing military collaboration.
The US targeted terrorists in northwest Sokoto state with strikes in December, in a joint operation with Nigeria, officials from both countries said.
Going forward, the US military has said it will supply intelligence for Nigerian air strikes and work to expedite arms purchases.
While the 200-troop deployment represents a scaling up of that collaboration, "US troops aren't going to be involved in direct combat or operations," Uba told the Journal.
Nigeria requested the additional assistance, he added.
Africa's most populous country is battling a long-running insurgency concentrated in its northeast, while non-ideological "bandit" gangs conduct kidnappings for ransom and loot villages in the northwest.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Nigeria insecurity persists despite US military deployment
CGTN examines the latest wave of violence in Nigeria alongside the limited presence of US military personnel in the country.
Friday, February 6, 2026
Survivors recount terror of Nigeria massacre where people were burned inside houses
When no one attended, they went on a rampage, killing people and torching houses, he said.
Salihu is the traditional chief of Woro, a small, Muslim-majority village in west-central Nigeria where alleged jihadist gunmen are reported to have perpetrated a massacre late Tuesday.
Details were still emerging from the attack, but it was one of the country’s deadliest in recent months. According to the Red Cross, the death toll stood at 162 people, and the search for bodies was ongoing.
Badly shaken, Salihu recounted the night of terror he survived as the attackers killed two of his sons and kidnapped his wife and three daughters.
Around 5pm, the gunmen “just came in and started shooting”, the 53-year-old chief told Agence France-Presse on Thursday, clutching his Muslim prayer beads in his hand.
“All those shops that are within the road, they burnt them … Some people have been burned inside their houses,” he said.
Salihu survived by hiding in a house, then fled to the neighbouring town of Kaiama.
The attack lasted until 3am, he said.
“When the day breaks, the corpses we see, it’s too much,” he said.
Agence France-Presse reporters who visited Woro found it deserted except for a handful of men searching for bodies and burying the dead.
Large parts of the village had been reduced to piles of ash and rubble, with the remains of burned-out vehicles strewn across its dirt roads.
Resident Muhammed Abdulkarim said he had been standing by the road when he saw a group of what looked like soldiers in uniform approaching.
Then he realised they were “bandits”, he said.
“They started chasing people, catching people, tied them by their back,” he said.
“We just hear, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa. They are shooting them (in) their heads.”
Abdulkarim, 60, lost 12 family members in the attack, and his two-year-old son was abducted, he said.
Woro, a village of several thousand people, sits near a forest region known to serve as a hideout for jihadist fighters and armed gangs, groups that have fuelled nearly two decades of violence in Africa’s most populous country.
It is a Muslim community, but its residents want nothing to do with radicalised jihadist groups, said Salihu, the village chief.
“People don’t want to follow their ideology,” he said.
When a radical group sent a letter saying they planned to come to Woro to preach, no one attended, he said.
Salihu alerted the local security services.
“I think that is what brought the anger to come and just kill people like that in the community,” he said.
The governor of Kwara State gave the death toll from the attack as 75.
But residents reported burying upwards of 165 bodies.
The attackers kidnapped another 38 people, mostly women and children, said local assembly member Sa’idu Baba Ahmed.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the “beastly attack”, deploying an army battalion to the troubled region and blaming the Islamist movement Boko Haram - though the name was often used generically for jihadist groups in Nigeria.
Kwara State is racked by violence by armed “bandit” gangs and jihadist groups that have been extending their range from northwestern Nigeria farther south.
In October, the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil in the state, near Woro.
Nigeria’s northeast is meanwhile the scene of long-running violence by Boko Haram and a rival offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Nigeria is broadly split between a Christian-majority south and a Muslim-majority north.
US President Donald Trump has alleged there was a “genocide” of Christians in Nigeria - a claim rejected by the Nigerian government and many independent experts, who say the country’s security crises claim the lives of both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction.
Washington has alternately pressured and aided the Nigerian government in its fight against jihadist violence.
On Christmas Day, the United States launched strikes targeting jihadist militants in northwestern Nigeria.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the massacre in Woro as a “terrorist attack”, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Christian group says all abductees taken in Nigeria’s Kurmin Wali released
All 166 people who were kidnapped during an attack on a village and churches in Kurmin Wali in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna State last month have been released, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said.
Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the northern chapter of CAN, said on Thursday that every abducted worshipper had now returned, without giving details on whether a ransom was paid or how the release was secured, the Reuters news agency reported.
It said CAN leader in Kaduna, Reverend Caleb Maaji, also confirmed the release, saying he had just returned from the government house in Kaduna, where the governor is set to receive the worshippers.
“The stage is set for them to be brought … His Excellency will meet with them. This is a result of the prayers we have offered,” he said.
Nigerian government officials have yet to comment publicly on the release.
However, Nigerian media reports cited Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, confirming the return of 82 of those who were kidnapped.
On the morning of January 18, gunmen known locally as bandits arrived in Kurmin Wali in numbers, armed with AK47 rifles.
They broke down doors and ordered people out of their homes and the village’s three churches, residents told Al Jazeera at the time.
The gunmen abducted 177 people, taking them into the forest, but 11 escaped their captors.
Initially, Kaduna State officials denied that an attack had occurred. Only two days later did government officials admit that an “abduction” had taken place, promising to help secure the villagers’ return.
The village chief told Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris at the time that the kidnappers accused the community of taking 10 motorcycles they had hidden in the bush, and demanded their return in exchange for the return of the villagers.
The assault on the village and churches in Kaduna was among the latest in a string of mass abductions that have intensified pressure on the Nigerian government.
Nigeria has also faced scrutiny from United States President Donald Trump, who has accused the country of failing to stop the persecution of Christians.
US forces struck what they described as “terrorist” targets on December 25.
Abuja says it is working with Washington to improve security and denies any systematic persecution of Christians.
Reverend John Hayab, chairman of the northern chapter of CAN, said on Thursday that every abducted worshipper had now returned, without giving details on whether a ransom was paid or how the release was secured, the Reuters news agency reported.
It said CAN leader in Kaduna, Reverend Caleb Maaji, also confirmed the release, saying he had just returned from the government house in Kaduna, where the governor is set to receive the worshippers.
“The stage is set for them to be brought … His Excellency will meet with them. This is a result of the prayers we have offered,” he said.
Nigerian government officials have yet to comment publicly on the release.
However, Nigerian media reports cited Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, confirming the return of 82 of those who were kidnapped.
On the morning of January 18, gunmen known locally as bandits arrived in Kurmin Wali in numbers, armed with AK47 rifles.
They broke down doors and ordered people out of their homes and the village’s three churches, residents told Al Jazeera at the time.
The gunmen abducted 177 people, taking them into the forest, but 11 escaped their captors.
Initially, Kaduna State officials denied that an attack had occurred. Only two days later did government officials admit that an “abduction” had taken place, promising to help secure the villagers’ return.
The village chief told Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris at the time that the kidnappers accused the community of taking 10 motorcycles they had hidden in the bush, and demanded their return in exchange for the return of the villagers.
The assault on the village and churches in Kaduna was among the latest in a string of mass abductions that have intensified pressure on the Nigerian government.
Nigeria has also faced scrutiny from United States President Donald Trump, who has accused the country of failing to stop the persecution of Christians.
US forces struck what they described as “terrorist” targets on December 25.
Abuja says it is working with Washington to improve security and denies any systematic persecution of Christians.
Attacks on civilians in central and northern Nigeria kill nearly 200
Nearly 200 people have been killed by armed men in separate attacks in remote villages in central and northern Nigeria, a local lawmaker, residents and police said on Wednesday, as security forces searched for survivors and chased the attackers.
In central Kwara state, gunmen attacked the Woro community on Tuesday leaving at least 170 people dead, the lawmaker for the area Saidu Baba Ahmed said by phone.
It was the deadliest assault recorded this year in the district bordering Niger state, an area increasingly targeted by gunmen who raid villages, kidnap residents and loot livestock.
Ahmed said the gunmen rounded up residents, bound their hands behind their backs and executed them. The lawmaker shared photographs of dead bodies with Reuters, which the agency was not immediately able to verify.
Villagers fled into surrounding bushland during the attack, he said. The gunmen torched homes and shops.
Police said "scores were killed," without giving a figure.
"As I'm speaking to you now, I'm in the village along with military personnel, sorting dead bodies and combing the surrounding areas for more," Ahmed said.
Several people were still missing on Wednesday morning, he said.
Residents told Reuters the gunmen demanded during a sermon that locals ditch their allegiance to the Nigerian state and switch to Sharia Islamic law. When the villagers pushed back, the militants opened fire.
Kwara police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said the police and military have been mobilized to the area for a search-and-rescue operation, but declined to provide casualty details.
In central Kwara state, gunmen attacked the Woro community on Tuesday leaving at least 170 people dead, the lawmaker for the area Saidu Baba Ahmed said by phone.
It was the deadliest assault recorded this year in the district bordering Niger state, an area increasingly targeted by gunmen who raid villages, kidnap residents and loot livestock.
Ahmed said the gunmen rounded up residents, bound their hands behind their backs and executed them. The lawmaker shared photographs of dead bodies with Reuters, which the agency was not immediately able to verify.
Villagers fled into surrounding bushland during the attack, he said. The gunmen torched homes and shops.
Police said "scores were killed," without giving a figure.
"As I'm speaking to you now, I'm in the village along with military personnel, sorting dead bodies and combing the surrounding areas for more," Ahmed said.
Several people were still missing on Wednesday morning, he said.
Residents told Reuters the gunmen demanded during a sermon that locals ditch their allegiance to the Nigerian state and switch to Sharia Islamic law. When the villagers pushed back, the militants opened fire.
Kwara police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said the police and military have been mobilized to the area for a search-and-rescue operation, but declined to provide casualty details.
A 'cowardly expression of frustration'
Ayodeji Emmanuel Babaomo, the Red Cross secretary in Kwara state, told The Associated Press that hundreds of men attacked and scores were killed, but they did not have exact numbers because of the area's remoteness — about eight hours from the state capital and near Nigeria's border with Benin.
Footage from the scene on local television show bodies lying in blood on the ground, some with their hands tied, as well as burning houses.
Kwara Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said in statement Wednesday the violence was a "cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells" in response to ongoing military operations against armed extremists in the state.
Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis, with an insurgency by Islamic militants in the northeast alongside a surge in kidnappings for ransom by gunmen across the northwest and north-central regions in recent months. Intercommunal violence is also prevalent in the central states.
Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area, told The Associated Press that Tuesday attacks in Woro and Nuku were carried out by the Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State group.
But James Barnett, a researcher at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, said the culprits were most likely a faction of Boko Haram that has been responsible for other recent massacres in the area. No one has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attacks.
The Nigerian military has said in the past that the Lakurawa has roots in neighbouring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria's border communities following a 2023 military coup.
Ayodeji Emmanuel Babaomo, the Red Cross secretary in Kwara state, told The Associated Press that hundreds of men attacked and scores were killed, but they did not have exact numbers because of the area's remoteness — about eight hours from the state capital and near Nigeria's border with Benin.
Footage from the scene on local television show bodies lying in blood on the ground, some with their hands tied, as well as burning houses.
Kwara Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said in statement Wednesday the violence was a "cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells" in response to ongoing military operations against armed extremists in the state.
Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis, with an insurgency by Islamic militants in the northeast alongside a surge in kidnappings for ransom by gunmen across the northwest and north-central regions in recent months. Intercommunal violence is also prevalent in the central states.
Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area, told The Associated Press that Tuesday attacks in Woro and Nuku were carried out by the Lakurawa, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State group.
But James Barnett, a researcher at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, said the culprits were most likely a faction of Boko Haram that has been responsible for other recent massacres in the area. No one has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attacks.
The Nigerian military has said in the past that the Lakurawa has roots in neighbouring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria's border communities following a 2023 military coup.
Separate attack kills 13
In a separate attack in the northern Katsina state, gunmen killed at least 21 people, moving from house to house to shoot their victims, residents and local police said.
The attack broke a six-month peace pact between the community and the armed gang.
It also highlighted the dilemma faced by residents in Nigeria's remote north, where some have sought peace with the armed gangs that terrorize them. Residents typically pool money and food, which they give to bandits so they are not attacked.
Last week, armed extremists in northeastern Nigeria killed at least 36 people during separate attacks on a construction site and on an army base.
Nigeria has been under pressure to restore security since U.S. President Donald Trump accused it last year of failing to protect Christians after numerous Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings. U.S. forces struck what they described as terrorist targets on Dec. 25.
The Nigerian authorities say they are co-operating with Washington to improve security and have denied there is systematic persecution of Christians.
In a separate attack in the northern Katsina state, gunmen killed at least 21 people, moving from house to house to shoot their victims, residents and local police said.
The attack broke a six-month peace pact between the community and the armed gang.
It also highlighted the dilemma faced by residents in Nigeria's remote north, where some have sought peace with the armed gangs that terrorize them. Residents typically pool money and food, which they give to bandits so they are not attacked.
Last week, armed extremists in northeastern Nigeria killed at least 36 people during separate attacks on a construction site and on an army base.
Nigeria has been under pressure to restore security since U.S. President Donald Trump accused it last year of failing to protect Christians after numerous Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings. U.S. forces struck what they described as terrorist targets on Dec. 25.
The Nigerian authorities say they are co-operating with Washington to improve security and have denied there is systematic persecution of Christians.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Eighty kidnapped Nigerians return home after escape
Dozens of worshippers kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state have returned home weeks after their abduction, police have confirmed.
They were among 177 people seized last month from three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.
The 80 people escaped on the day they were taken but hid in neighbouring villages for a fortnight "due to fear of being captured again", state police spokesman Mansur Hassan told the BBC.
The authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 86 people still being held. The attack was part of a wave of kidnappings for ransom affecting many parts of Nigeria, but no group has said it was behind the abductions.
The raid was initially denied by police, who only confirmed the kidnappings on 21 January after local residents had reported to the BBC that 177 worshippers were abducted, with 11 escaping shortly afterwards.
The official response drew criticism from Amnesty International, which accused Nigerian authorities of "desperate denial".
The rights group urged officials to "take immediate and concrete measures to prevent rampant abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria."
In November, more than 300 students and teachers were taken from a Catholic school in Niger state, which neighbours Kaduna, before being released in two groups.
Nigeria faces multiple, overlapping security challenges beyond kidnappings, including an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, separatist violence in the south-east, and frequent clashes between herders and farmers in central regions over land and water.
Security experts say efforts to tackle these crises are hampered by corruption, poor intelligence sharing, and underfunded local police forces.
The security situation has drawn international attention. In December, the US conducted airstrikes in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting two camps run by an Islamist militant group.
Following the action, President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians in the West African nation continued.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, with significant mixing in central regions.
The government maintains that people of all faiths have been victims of the widespread violence.
By Madina Maishanu, BBC
They were among 177 people seized last month from three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.
The 80 people escaped on the day they were taken but hid in neighbouring villages for a fortnight "due to fear of being captured again", state police spokesman Mansur Hassan told the BBC.
The authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 86 people still being held. The attack was part of a wave of kidnappings for ransom affecting many parts of Nigeria, but no group has said it was behind the abductions.
The raid was initially denied by police, who only confirmed the kidnappings on 21 January after local residents had reported to the BBC that 177 worshippers were abducted, with 11 escaping shortly afterwards.
The official response drew criticism from Amnesty International, which accused Nigerian authorities of "desperate denial".
The rights group urged officials to "take immediate and concrete measures to prevent rampant abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria."
In November, more than 300 students and teachers were taken from a Catholic school in Niger state, which neighbours Kaduna, before being released in two groups.
Nigeria faces multiple, overlapping security challenges beyond kidnappings, including an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, separatist violence in the south-east, and frequent clashes between herders and farmers in central regions over land and water.
Security experts say efforts to tackle these crises are hampered by corruption, poor intelligence sharing, and underfunded local police forces.
The security situation has drawn international attention. In December, the US conducted airstrikes in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting two camps run by an Islamist militant group.
Following the action, President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians in the West African nation continued.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, with significant mixing in central regions.
The government maintains that people of all faiths have been victims of the widespread violence.
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