A court in Nigeria sentences a top militant leader to 15 years on terror charges

A court in Nigeria on Thursday sentenced a top militant leader of an al-Qaida-linked group on the country's most-wanted list to 15 years in prison for illegal mining and using the proceeds to fund terror attacks.

Mahmud Muhammad Usman, who headed the Ansaru group, had pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in illegal mining to procure arms for his militant group. It was the first conviction on a total of 32 charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.

Usman will remain in the custody of the Nigerian secret police while his trial continues. The other charges mostly include other counts of terrorism and the handling of illegal arms.

Usman was arrested last month along with fellow militant leader Mahmud al-Nigeri in an operation involving several Nigerian law enforcement agencies.

Usman's group is accused of carrying out the 2022 attack on a prison in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, that saw nearly 900 inmates escape, including dozens of Ansaru members. The group is also said to have been behind the attack on Niger's uranium facility in 2013.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces multiple security threats with dozens of armed groups taking advantage of the limited security presence in the rural communities to carry out attacks on villages and along major roads.

Despite military assaults on the groups, they have continued to expand their operations and carry out routine attacks. This year, Boko Haram has mounted a major resurgence.

The United States recently approved a potential $346 million weapons sale to the country that authorities have said will boost the fight against insecurity.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigerian air force pushes back jihadists on Cameroonian border

In a statement, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had re-established communication with the ground troops that had been under threat by the jihadists.

The strike on four targets in the Kumshe area in Borno State had "intensified efforts" to dominate the battle field and "deny terrorists freedom of action", said NAF spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame.
Insurgent resurgence

The Nigerian military has been fighting a resurgence of attacks from jihadist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) since the beginning of the year in the northeast, which neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Both ISWAP and Boko Haram have taken over military bases, killing soldiers and seizing weapons.

The army, which says it is battling not just jihadist militants but also armed gangs in the northwest, known as "bandits", last week said it had killed 592 militia members in eight months, since the start of the year, surpassing operational gains made in 2024.
US could supply arms

Last week the United States State Department approved the sale to Nigeria of $346 million (€291 million) in weapons, including bombs, rockets and munitions.

The Nigerian army said the weapons - whose sale is subject to Congressional approval - would "improve Nigeria's capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organisations".

Civilians have been caught in the crossfire of the insurgency, which has left more than 40,000 people dead and forced more than two million to flee their homes, according to the UN.
Hostages held by 'bandits' freed

Nigeria’s air force also helped to rescued at least 76 people kidnapped by bandits, including women and children, in northwestern Katsina state, according to local authorities.

The rescue on Saturday followed a precision air strike by the air force at Pauwa Hill as part of a manhunt for a bandit known as Babaro who has been linked to a mosque attack last week in a nearby town that killed 50 people.

One child captive died in the rescue operation.

Mass kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria's northwest and central states, where armed gangs often target remote villages, stealing cattle and abducting residents, and leaving residents unable to farm and feed themselves.

The militias are motivated by financial gain, and have no ideological leanings, but officials and analysts have expressed concern over growing pragmatic alliances with jihadists from Nigeria's northeast.

rfi

Nigerian military rescues 76 kidnap victims held in 'bandit' camp

Nigeria's military rescued 76 people kidnapped by criminal gangs known as "bandits" in northwestern Katsina state, though one child captive died in the operation, local security authorities said.

The rescue took place on Saturday, with air force personnel raiding a site at Pauwa Hill, in the Kankara local government area, Katsina state internal security commissioner Nasir Mu'azu said in a statement.

The operation was staged following an air force strike in the hunt for a "notorious bandit kingpin" and his gang suspected to be behind an attack Tuesday on a mosque and on nearby villages that claimed 50 lives, said the statement.

Mu'azu said that the operation "successfully" rescued 76 kidnapped people, including women and children.

"However, it was regrettably noted that one child tragically lost his life during the ordeal," he said.

There was no information on the number of casualties among "bandits", as members of criminal gangs are locally known.

In some past cases, families of victims have disputed official claims of rescue and reported having to pay ransoms for the release of captives.

Mass kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria's northwest and central states, where heavily armed gangs often target remote villages to loot and abduct residents.

The gangs have turned cattle theft, kidnapping and imposing taxes on farmers into huge moneymakers across the impoverished countryside, where the government's presence has long been nearly non-existent.

Nigeria's banditry crisis originated in conflicts over land and water rights between herders and farmers, which has since morphed into organised crime.

The militias have no ideological leaning and are motivated by financial gain, but officials and analysts have expressed concern over growing pragmatic alliances with jihadists from Nigeria's northeast.

France 24

Video - Security experts applaud Nigeria’s arrest of high-profile Ansaru militants

Nigerian authorities captured two top leaders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group accused of some of the country's deadliest attacks. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu called it a major breakthrough in the fight against insurgency and banditry. Security experts have welcomed the arrests, calling them a strong sign that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts are gaining ground.

CGTN Africa

US approves potential $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria to bolster security

The U.S. State Department approved a possible $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria to help improve security in the sub-Saharan country, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Congress was notified and would need to approve the sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. The agency is a division of the Department of Defense body that provides technical assistance and oversees transfers of defense equipment.

The weapons requested by Nigeria include munitions, bombs and rockets.

A resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown jihadist group, has shaken Nigeria’s northeast. The group took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose its radical version of Islamic law. In recent months, Islamic extremists have repeatedly overrun military outposts, mined roads with bombs and raided civilian communities, raising fears of a possible return to the peak insecurity of the Boko Haram era despite the military’s claims of success against them.

The conflict, which has spread into Nigeria’s northern neighbors, has claimed about 35,000 civilian lives and displaced more than 2 million people in the country’s northeastern region, according to the U.N.

Apart from the insurgency in the northeast, Africa’s most populous country also faces serious security challenges in the north-central and northwest regions, where hundreds have been killed and injured in recent months.

“The proposed sale will improve Nigeria’s capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” the Pentagon said Wednesday. “There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”

In the past 10 years, Nigeria has bought military equipment from the U.S. on several occasions. Most recently, the U.S. approved a $997-million weapons sale in 2022.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria military kills scores of gang members in air and ground raids

The Nigerian air force has killed scores of gunmen, known locally as "bandits", who were members of criminal gangs operating in Zamfara state, the military has said.

The air force said in a statement on Monday that it carried out a raid in Makakkari forest, north-west Nigeria, which was the hideout of the gunmen who were believed to be behind some high-profile kidnappings in the area.

It said it conducted the operation after surveillance detected more than 400 gang members preparing to attack a village.

Over the past two weeks, armed gangs have targeted nearby settlements, killing scores and kidnapping many more. At least 13 security personnel have also been killed.

The aerial strikes, in coordination with attacks on the ground, led to the deaths of "several notorious bandit kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers," air force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said.

He added that the ground forces intercepted and killed others trying to flee the forest.

In parts of Nigeria, kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for some.

The bandits, motivated by financial gain, have also increased their cooperation with jihadist groups that have been waging a 16-year armed insurgency in the north-east.

In recent years, the military has launched a number of operations against the gangs, including last month when at least 95 gang members were killed - but the violence has persisted.

By Chris Ewokor, BBC

Video - Nigeria’s Army-Air Force partnership reshapes security landscape

Kabir Adamu, a national security policy and strategy specialist for Nigeria and the Sahel, credits a strengthened army-air force collaboration for progress in tackling banditry. He highlights how this partnership addresses root causes such as resource conflicts and weak governance, marking a shift in Nigeria’s approach to curbing insecurity in affected regions.

CGTN Africa

Troops kill at least 95 'bandits' in northwest Nigeria

Armed gangs known as "bandits" have taken root across Nigeria's rural hinterlands amid poverty and government neglect. They raid, loot and burn villages, exact taxes, and conduct kidnappings for ransom.

On Tuesday, Nigerian air and ground troops "foiled an attempted bandit attack, launching air strikes and shootouts" in the northwestern state of Niger, according to the report, which was produced by a private conflict monitor.

It added that "at least 95 bandits" were killed in the clash, which occurred near the villages of Warari and Ragada in the Rijau local government area.

The Nigerian military put out a statement about the clash Wednesday, saying that forces "engaged terrorists in a firefight, neutralizing several."

One soldier was killed, it said.

Tuesday's attack follows a slew of battles where the Nigerian military -- which has in the past has been quick to publicise and sometimes exaggerate its gains -- has kept relatively mum on apparent victories where scores of bandits were killed.

An intelligence source told AFP the military was changing tack after realising publicising their gains was keeping jihadists and bandits abreast of their operations.

The army declined to comment.

Conflict spreading

Nigeria's myriad bandit gangs maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states, in unrest that evolved from clashes between herders and farmers over land and resources into a broader conflict across the sparsely governed countryside.

Since 2011, as arms trafficking increased and the wider Sahel fell into turmoil, organised armed gangs formed, with cattle rustling and kidnapping becoming huge moneymakers in the largely impoverished northwest.

Groups also levy taxes on farmers and artisanal miners.

Violence has spread in recent years from its heartland in the northwest -- where analysts say some gains have been made by the military recently -- into north-central Nigeria, where observers say the situation is getting worse.

Increasing cooperation between the criminal gangs, who are primarily motivated by financial gains, and jihadists -- who are waging a separate, 16-year-old-armed insurrection in the northeast -- has seen attacks worsen.

Despite recent gains in the northwest, the military remains overstretched. While improved cooperation between the army and air force has aided the fight, analysts say, airstrikes have also killed hundreds of civilians.

Between 2018 and 2023, there were more deaths from bandits than there were from jihadist groups, according to figures from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based monitor.

Last week motorcycle-riding bandits rounded up a group of farmers working their fields outside Jangebe village in Zamfara state, killing nine and kidnapping around 15 others, local residents told AFP.

Earlier this month, Nigerian soldiers killed at least 150 bandits in an ambush in northwestern Kebbi state, a local official said.

AFP

Security forces kill 30 gunmen after armed attacks in northwest Nigeria

Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 gunmen after armed attacks in the country’s troubled northwest, authorities said Thursday.

The joint police and military operation occurred Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages, State Commissioner for Home Affairs Nasir Mua’zu said in a statement.

Mua’zu said three police officers and two soldiers died during the counter-attack which was launched against the gunmen who attacked the villages Tuesday evening.

“We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens,” he said.

In recent months, the northwestern and north-central regions of Nigeria have recorded an uptick in attacks by armed gangs on communities in these regions. Hundreds have been killed and injured in the attacks.

Bandit groups are known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the country’s conflict-battered north. Most of the groups are made up of former herders in conflict with settled communities.

Dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited security presence in Nigeria’s mineral-rich northwestern region, carrying out attacks on villages and along major roads. Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative way for bandit groups to fund other crimes and control villages.

Aside from the conflict in the country’s north-central and northwest, Nigeria is battling to contain an insurgency in the northeast where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the U.N.

By, Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria moves closer to acquiring 12 US-made AH-1Z viper attack helicopters

 

This development follows a high-level visit to the United States by Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff, who led a Nigerian delegation to a Programme Management Review Meeting held in San Diego, California, from June 9 to 13, 2025.

The meeting brought together senior U.S. government officials and representatives from Bell Textron, manufacturers of the helicopters, to assess progress and fine-tune the delivery timeline.

The visit marked a critical step in the procurement process, offering Nigerian defense officials direct engagement with their U.S. counterparts, including the United States Marine Corps—operators of the AH-1Z platform.

According to Air Marshal Abubakar, the meetings provided Nigeria with valuable insights into best practices for operating, sustaining, and supporting the AH-1Z, a platform known for its agility, precision strike capabilities, and battlefield survivability.

During the engagement, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his deep appreciation to the U.S. Government, emphasizing the value of its longstanding strategic partnership with Nigeria.

“We are deeply grateful to the United States Government for its enduring strategic partnership with Nigeria.

“The acquisition of the AH-1Z Viper helicopters will significantly enhance the Nigerian Air Force’s combat effectiveness, operational efficiency, and mission readiness.”

The acquisition comes at a time when Nigeria is facing one of the most intense waves of terrorist violence in its history, with insurgent groups launching increasingly sophisticated attacks using advanced weaponry.

Deal closed after three years after initial request

This deal was first discussed in 2022, when Nigeria indicated interest in purchasing 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters from the United States.

After nearly three years of deliberation and diplomatic back-and-forth, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the sale, signaling a major milestone in Nigeria’s military modernization efforts.

Originally approved in April 2022, the full $997 million package includes engines, guided weapons, night vision systems, training, and logistics support as per Military Africa.

The delay was largely due to U.S. concerns over human rights issues, which had stalled similar arms sales in the past.

With regional security threats growing, the helicopters are expected to boost Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations and mark a new phase in U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation.

The AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter

The AH-1Z Viper—also known as the "Zulu Cobra"—is one of the most advanced attack helicopters in the world, developed by Bell Helicopter for the United States Marine Corps. It is an upgraded variant of the AH-1W Super Cobra and is designed for precision strike missions, close air support, and battlefield reconnaissance

The platform features advanced avionics, weapons systems, and target acquisition technologies, making it one of the most capable attack helicopters in use today.

The AH-1Z Viper offers a multi-mission platform that combines lethal firepower, high survivability, and advanced situational awareness—making it a valuable asset in modern asymmetrical and conventional warfare.

The AH-1Z Viper features advanced targeting systems like FLIR and laser designation for precise day-and-night operations, along with radar and rangefinders for engaging ground and air threats.

Its weapons include a 20mm rotary cannon, Hellfire missiles, Hydra rockets, Sidewinder missiles, and other munitions, making it a versatile and lethal combat platform.

For Nigeria, it represents a significant leap in combat aviation capability, especially in counterinsurgency, anti-terrorism, and border security operations.

As Nigeria continues to modernize its armed forces, the AH-1Z deal symbolizes deepening military cooperation between Abuja and Washington and reflects growing U.S. support for Nigeria’s security and counterterrorism efforts in the West African region.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Video - Nigerian security forces rethink strategies amid renewed militant threat

Authorities in Nigeria are relying on local intelligence and bolstering the Civilian Joint Task Force to tackle the growing threat posed by militants in recent months. However, experts say a lasting solution requires increased economic support, local policing, and high-tech surveillance.

CGTN

Video - Nigerian military chief vows troop support as insurgent attacks rise

Nigeria’s top military commander, General Christopher Musa, pledged full support to troops battling a rise in insurgent violence, particularly in Borno State. This follows a deadly April attack where over 100 civilians were killed and multiple military bases were attacked. The army chief pledged new leadership, fresh equipment, and possible border fortifications as part of renewed efforts to restore security.

CGTN

Nigeria Governors Urge Army to Rethink Anti-Jihadist Strategy

State governors in northeast Nigeria on Thursday called on government security forces to rethink their counter-insurgency strategy, after more than 100 people were killed last month in jihadist attacks.

The region has seen an upsurge in Islamist militant attacks in recent weeks, reigniting a grinding conflict over the last 16 years that has left more than 40,000 dead and displaced two million.

Governors from the states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi met in the Yobe state capital Damaturu for the 11th North-East Governors Forum.

Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas said in a closing speech that he and colleagues were alarmed at the increase in insurgent activity.

“The forum… calls for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter-insurgency onslaught in the region,” he added.

Kefas said a “multidimensional approach” was needed to address the “root causes” of the unrest, with work on youth employment and training, better roads and education and poverty reduction.

Boko Haram, which originated in Borno, and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have lost ground to the Nigerian army but have recently become more active.

The pair have notably resolved disputes between them to focus on fighting outside forces.

They have also adapted their combat tactics, especially through the use of drones, improvised explosive devices and coordinated raids.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) tasked with fighting extremists in the Lake Chad region since 2013 has meanwhile been weakened after Niger’s withdrawal in March, affecting cross-border patrols and intelligence sharing.

Another member, Chad, has likewise threatened to pull out.

The Defense Post

How Nigeria can stop rising 'jungle justice'

A stolen phone, a whispered accusation, and slowly, a crowd gathers. In minutes, the charges are read out to the suspect and "justice" is administered — not in a courtroom, but on the street.

Mob justice, often called "jungle justice" in Nigeria, is the act of a crowd taking the law into their own hands by punishing suspected criminals without giving them the right to defend themselves via judicial procedures.

Over the past decade, such violence in Nigeria has surged, fueled by distrust in law enforcement, economic hardship, and the rapid spread of misinformation.

"It's [mob justice] been a long time with us," said Frank Tietie, a Nigerian legal expert and Executive Director of Citizens for Social Economic Rights in Abuja.

"Where law enforcement agents are seen to be restricted only to capital cities or the various states or in the nation's capital, people tend to have a sense that the government is far away and they can do whatever they like," he said.

A case of mistaken identity

Recently, 16 hunters traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano were lynched in Edo State on mere suspicion of being bandits and kidnappers.

According to local reports, the victims were traveling back to their home in Kano after attending Muslim Eid al-Adha celebrations when local vigilantes stopped the vehicle they were in.

Upon searching, the vigilante members found homemade Dane guns used by the hunters. The discovery quickly attracted a crowd who concluded the travelers were criminals and burned them alive.

Their gruesome deaths have reignited debates on lawlessness, justice, and the failure of policing in Africa's most populous nation.

President Bola Tinubu and human rights groups condemned the incident, and Tinubu vowed to pursue those who perpetrated the act and bring them to justice.

Nigeria's constitution stipulates that under no circumstances should the life of any Nigerian be taken except in accordance with the provisions of the law, with the pronouncement of the judgment of a court.

Common scenarios that lead to vigilantism

Apart from petty theft, such as pickpocketing, stealing mobile phones, bicycles, or motorcycles, suspicions of witchcraft or child theft can lead to mob justice.

However, cases of false accusations, mainly driven by personal vendettas, such as business competition, have also been documented by Amnesty International.

As Nigeria is a deeply religious country with dozens of ethnic communities, tensions can easily trigger mob actions, particularly during periods of unrest or crisis.

"There are instances even in police stations the case will reach there, and you find people round the police station, they want to get the culprit out and set him ablaze," Ben Shemang, DW correspondent in Abuja, said.

Over the past decade, Amnesty International has documented at least 555 victims of mob violence in Nigeria.


How Nigeria can curb 'jungle justice'

To reverse the trend and end the vice, experts say the Nigerian government needs to intervene by increasing public awareness campaigns against mob violence.

There is also an urgent need for police reforms and human rights training.

"We should put more pressure on the national assembly to decentralize the police system," Frank Tietie said, adding that the federal-controlled police have become incompetent and corrupt.

"The hope is that when we have a decentralized police system, where various states and local governments can organize proper police for us, then we may have less issues of jungle justice and extra judicial killings as we had in Edo State," he said.

Additionally, there needs to be increased advocacy for justice reforms and promotion of peaceful conflict resolution, and most importantly, local communities and security agencies must emphasize collaboration to build mutual trust and responsiveness.

Josephine Mahachi, DW

Video - Police ban Durbar Festival in Northern Nigeria

Authorities canceled the event for the second consecutive year due to security concerns.

CGTN

Nigerian military unveils first indigenous attack drones, bombs

The Nigerian Military, in collaboration with Briech UAS, a communications company, has unveiled the first and largest indigenous attack drones and bombs in Nigeria and Africa.

Briech UAS, in partnership with the Nigerian Army, demonstrated and unveiled these attack drones and bombs at the company’s headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, described the initiative as a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward self-reliance in defence technology and a significant step in strengthening national security capabilities.

Mr Musa, an army general, emphasised that the development of combat drones was a timely intervention, highlighting their efficiency in intelligence gathering.

He said that these drones would facilitate decisive actions against threats in an era where security challenges were increasingly complex and asymmetric.

“These force multipliers will play a vital role in enhancing the operational effectiveness of our military.

“Particularly in a world where global politics surrounding the procurement of advanced military hardware have become more intricate.

“Countries that do not produce such solutions face bureaucratic bottlenecks and diplomatic hurdles when acquiring these critical platforms. We are facing such challenges directly.

“If you don’t produce what you need, you will be at the mercy of others, even when you have the financial resources to acquire them.

“By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces its dependence on foreign resources, ensures prompt acquisition, and strengthens its ability to respond swiftly to security threats.

“With the brilliant minds we have, particularly among our youth, we can create outstanding technology that competes globally,” he said.

The Governor of Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang, stressed that Nigeria’s growth depended on recognising and patronising indigenous products.

Mr Mutfwang stated that the drones would play a critical role in protecting national sovereignty both in Plateau and across the nation.

He revealed that some of these locally made technologies had already been deployed to Plateau, significantly improving the efficiency of ground forces.

He also noted that his state was partnering with local bomb and drone manufacturers like Briech UAS to counter insurgency using domestically produced weapons.

“As a nation, we made a mistake by allowing non-state actors to acquire capabilities that nearly rival those of state actors.

“We have entered into a partnership that has enabled the deployment of these facilities in our state.

“We have witnessed significant improvements in the efficiency of our security forces.

“Indeed, it was an error to allow non-state actors to amass capabilities that almost overpower those of legitimate state forces.

“It is time to rectify that imbalance.

“We must ensure that no one within our borders possesses capabilities that match or exceed those entrusted with the constitutional duty of protecting our national sovereignty,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of Briech UAS, Bright Echefu, noted that insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP had recently adopted commercial drones for reconnaissance and attack missions.

“These drones have been used to track and attack our troops. They are being deployed to coordinate ambushes and execute crude aerial strikes,” he said

Premium Times

Nigeria bets on deradicalization program in North West

The Nigerian government said it is expanding its deradicalization program, Operation Safe Corridor, to the country's North West to tackle rising insecurity in the region. In Nigeria, the North West is a geopolitical zone comprising the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The North West has been locked in a decade-old conflict as criminal gangs, otherwise referred to as bandits, raid villages and run a large kidnap-for-ransom industry. They are known to sexually assault women, kill citizens, and tax locals across vast swaths of northern Nigeria.

Chief of Defence Operations Emeka Onumajuru, who represented General Christopher Musa, the chief of defence staff, said the deradicalization program is "vital to breaking the cycle of terrorism and banditry through a structured pathway for rehabilitation and reintegration" of bandits. The program has also been used to deradicalize former Boko Haram fighters in the North East zone.

Deradicalization efforts yield results in North East

So far, Nigerian officials say Operation Safe Corridor has been instrumental in the fight against insurgency in the North East. The program aimed to rehabilitate former insurgents who surrendered or defected, reintegrating about 2,190 repentant terrorists back into the society.

The initiative is built on five pillars, says Onumajuru. These are: disarmament, demobilization, deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

While the program has been relatively successful in the North East region, concerns have been raised about recidivism, with reports of some rehabilitated individuals returning to terror groups.

Now with the intended expansion of the program to the North West, analysts have raised questions about Operation Safe Corridor's effectiveness. This is because the banditry in North West is largely driven by financial incentives like ransom payments, cattle rustling, and illegal mining, rather than ideology.

Can Operation Safe Corridor repeat successes?

Samuel Malik, a senior researcher at the pan-African think tank Good Governance Africa, believes the replicating the program is not inherently flawed. He says only "kinetic responses" that involve aggressive measures, often with military action, cannot solve Nigeria's security challenges.

But Samuel Malik adds the program can only succeed in the North West "if it is properly structured, monitored, and adapted to local realities, rather than being a rushed initiative."

"Deradicalization is effective when dealing with individuals who have been indoctrinated into violent extremist ideologies, but most bandits in the North West have explicitly rejected jihadist agendas," Samuel Malik said.

Oluwole Ojewale, an analyst with Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies, said the problem with "Safe Corridor" is that it was developed for terror groups who share extreme views.

"If what the government wants to do is demobilization, it is quite in order. But they cannot afford to copy and paste what they did in the North East and replicate the same in the North West," he told DW.

Deep-rooted problems remain

Critics of Operation Safe Corridor have said the program is perpetrator-centered and risks being seen as a reward system for terrorists.

Dengiyefa Angalapu, a counterterrorism and peacebuilding researcher, said this argument is reductionist. He told DW the initiative can be implemented in the North West as there are multiple actors in the region, including ideological terror groups, which often get generalized under the catchphrase of banditry.

Dengiyefa added that the deep-rooted grievances among herders prompt some to take up arms and make the initiative suitable for the region.

"Kinetic strategy alone cannot lead to a decline in terrorism. This is an initiative that should be expanded to other parts of the country to provide a national framework for countering terrorism," he told DW.

The analysts seem in agreement that this strategy should involve local peacebuilding mechanisms and economic empowerment to prevent relapse.

"While certain elements of the initiative such as psychological support, vocational training, and community reintegration remain crucial, the government should prioritize economic reintegration, conflict resolution, and mechanisms that prevent re-engagement in criminal activities," Samuel said.

By Abiodun Jamiu, DW

Counterterrorism center of Nigeria warns of threats, launches review of strategy

Nigeria's National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) warns that terrorist groups are getting more sophisticated — using new technologies and exploiting political and economic grievances to expand their operations. In response, authorities have launched a review of the national anti-terrorism strategy to address emerging threats.

The official anti-terror strategy document was first developed in 2014 and revised two years later. Authorities say this latest revision is necessary to reflect evolving security threats and ensure counterterrorism measures remain effective.

"The tactics used by non-state actors keep evolving and have become highly unpredictable," said Major General Adamu Garba Laka, the national coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Center. "Nigeria is grappling with the challenges of insecurity, thanks to the efforts made by personnel and agencies in charge of securing the lives of citizens, which has ensured the decline in the number of such incidences."

The review comes three months after Nigerian authorities warned that a new terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest region.

Authorities say terrorist organizations are increasingly using advanced technology — such as encrypted messaging apps, social media recruitment campaigns and drones — to enhance their operations.

They also exploit poverty, political grievances and weak law enforcement in remote areas to recruit fighters and spread their ideology.

Laka said the updated strategy will redefine the roles of government agencies involved in counterterrorism efforts.

For well over a decade, Nigeria has struggled to curb violence from terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Since 2009, more than 35,000 people have been killed, and at least 2 million have been displaced.

Although the overall number of terrorism-related deaths has declined in recent years, threats persist because of persistent poverty and poor governance.

Security analyst Chidi Omeje said the increasing sophistication of terror groups is not surprising.

"I don't see it as something that we didn't expect. That's the reality of emerging security," said Omeje. "They have these links with terror networks, so they'll naturally grow in these proficiencies. So, it's up to us to devise ways to counter those technologies they're using."

Last month, terrorists attacked a military base near Nigeria's border with Niger, killing 20 soldiers.

Security analyst Ebenezer Oyetakin argues that beyond reviewing counterterrorism strategies, authorities need to uncover terrorism financiers.

"When you take a look at the operation of al-Qaida, you compare it with ISIS — the way they move in their convoy — and then you compare it with Boko Haram, you'll see the semblance, which means they're too dynamic, they're not just a bunch of illiterates that are trying to make ends meet," said Oyetakin. "We should look for those behind them rather than contending with policies that are not sincerely being implemented."

Africa has become the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for the highest number of terror-related deaths in 2023.

Last April, Nigeria hosted the African Counter-Terrorism Summit, bringing together hundreds of experts and policymakers to develop a continent-wide strategy against terror groups.

But for now, Nigerian authorities say their focus remains on strengthening the country's resilience against terrorism.

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Nigeria labels Lakurawa as terrorist organization

Nigeria officially labels the Lakurawa group as a terrorist organization after years of violent attacks in rural communities.

The decision follows top-level instructions to Nigeria’s army to either kill or remove Lakurawa radicals from Nigerian territory.

“This is a great concern for the Nigerian government. They’re already trying to fight off the Boko Haram, Fulani herdsman, [and] ISIS West Africa,” Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs Canada says.

The ‘terrorist’ designation allows Nigerian forces to arrest suspects, freeze assets, and dismantle Lakurawa’s networks. However, questions remain about whether these measures address the conditions that enable the group to flourish.

“A lot of these terrorist groups feed on the fact that many of these young men don’t have jobs,” Musselman says.

“They’re poor, and [then they see] here’s an opportunity to join this group, cause all sorts of havoc in the name of Islam, and use it to get material gain.”

Meanwhile, religious minorities suffer.

“You’ve got these competing Islamic groups with their version of Sharia law. They’ll go against each other [and] there’s all this violence breaking out, and the innocent people are often getting caught into it,” Musselman says.

Ask the Lord to protect and strengthen believers in northern Nigeria. Consider providing practical help and biblical counseling through VOM Canada here.

“When you look at what has gone on in Nigeria, you see amazing, brave followers of Christ. But you also see the devastation and pain are real,” Musselman says.

“You’ve got so much violence and so much death and destruction. The only hope is Jesus.”

By Katey Hearth, Mission Network News

Nigerian army says it killed 76 extremists during a weeklong operation in Borno State

Nigerian troops killed 76 Islamic militants in the country's northeast during operations conducted in various parts of Borno state, the military said Thursday.

The operations took place between Jan. 7 and Jan. 13, Nigerian army spokesperson Edward Buba said during a news conference in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. He added that the military also arrested 72 suspects and rescued eight hostages kidnapped by the militants.

Buba did not provide details about the extremists' affiliation but the area of operations has long been plagued by attacks from the Boko Haram group and its breakaway faction that is loyal to the Islamic State group.

The army spokesperson also did not specify if any members of the Nigerian military were killed during the operations.

The announcement by Nigeria's military comes days after suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 40 farmers in another part of Borno State.

Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown jihadis, took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law. The conflict, now Africa’s longest struggle with militancy, has spilled into Nigeria’s northern neighbors.

Some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million have been displaced in the northeastern region, according to the U.N.

The 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in the village of Chibok in Borno state — the epicenter of the conflict — captured the attention of the world.

Nigeria's military has also killed 64 extremists, arrested 69 suspects and rescued 62 hostages during other operations in the country's northwest, Buba said Thursday.

Kidnappings have become a common occurrence in Nigeria's northeast, where dozens of armed groups exploit the region's limited security presence to carry out attacks on villages and along major roads. Many victims are only released after the payment of ransoms that sometimes run into the thousands of dollars.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP