Bandits Kill Scores, Abduct Many in Fresh Attacks Across Northern Nigeria

A fresh wave of coordinated violence has rocked northern Nigeria, with gunmen killing scores of people and abducting dozens across Adamawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kwara and Plateau states within 72 hours.

The renewed attacks — linked to suspected Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandit groups — have intensified concerns over worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, as communities grapple with repeated raids, mass killings and kidnappings for ransom.

In Adamawa State, the hometown of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Madagali Local Government Area, came under attack again late Tuesday night. Local sources said suspected Boko Haram insurgents stormed Kirchinga village around midnight, shooting residents and burning homes. Casualty figures from residents put the death toll at no fewer than 24, though the Nigeria Police Force said it was still compiling official numbers. This marks the fourth attack on Madagali in five months, following earlier raids on October 1, November 19, December 8, 2025, and February 24, 2026 — raising fears of renewed insurgent activity in the northeastern corridor. Police spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje said authorities were verifying casualty figures and assessing the full scale of destruction.

In Kebbi State, gunmen attacked a mosque in Dadinkowa community, Maiyama Local Government Area, during a nighttime Qur’anic Tafsir session coinciding with Taraweeh prayers. The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that five worshippers were killed and three others injured when the attackers opened fire around 8:30 p.m. Police spokesperson Bashir Usman described the incident as a reprisal attack by suspected terrorists, adding that security operatives have been deployed to restore calm and begin investigations.

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In Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, suspected bandits abducted several residents during a late-night raid. Witnesses said the attackers fired sporadically before moving house-to-house. The number of abductees remains unclear. The raid occurred barely a week after 16 residents were kidnapped in the same area, with gunmen reportedly demanding N20 million and three motorcycles as ransom. Recurring bandit attacks in Sokoto have severely disrupted farming activities and daily life, forcing many families to flee.

In Babanla community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, suspected bandits kidnapped four members of the same family from their farmland around 5 a.m. Wednesday. Community sources said five relatives were initially rounded up, but an elderly man was later released while four others were taken to an unknown location. The abduction sparked protests in Ilorin, where youths under the Coalition of Kwara North Youths demanded urgent government intervention to curb escalating violence in Edu, Patigi and Kaiama LGAs.

Meanwhile, in Plateau State, nine victims of a terror attack in Dorowa Babuje community, Barkin Ladi LGA, were laid to rest in a mass burial attended by grieving residents. Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his deputy Ngo Piyo, vowed that perpetrators would face justice.

Security analysts warn that banditry and insurgency in Northern Nigeria are stretching security forces thin. Contributing factors include the proliferation of small arms, vast forest terrain used as hideouts, weak rural policing structures, and economic hardship. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for expanded funding for the Nigerian Army Aviation wing to strengthen counter-insurgency and anti-bandit operations.

The latest attacks have left dozens dead, displaced families, forced farmers to abandon fields and deepened fear across rural communities. Residents across affected states are calling for decisive, intelligence-driven military operations and stronger federal-state coordination to halt the spiral of violence.

Bandits Kill Scores, Abduct Many in Fresh Attacks Across Northern Nigeria

Suspected Arsonists Set St. Mary’s Catholic Church Ablaze in Cross River

The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that officers of the Nigeria Police Force are investigating a suspected arson attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Katchuan Iruan, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.

According to ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the state police spokesperson, the attack occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, when unknown attackers allegedly set fire to parts of the church building and property. The blaze reportedly destroyed all church records stored in the sacristy and caused extensive damage to parish assets.

In addition to the documents, the attackers torched two vehicles belonging to the parish priest — a Lexus RX 350 Jeep and a Toyota Corolla — parked within the church compound. Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and no suspects have been identified so far.

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“The scene has been visited, photographs taken, and the case formally recorded. It has been referred to Okunde Police Station for discreet investigation,” ASP Eitokpah stated, urging the public to provide any information that could help identify the perpetrators.

Local reports indicate that the fire also damaged parts of the church building and possibly some sacred items inside the worship space. Church officials and community members have expressed shock and condemned the attack, emphasizing that it is a direct violation of the sanctity of a place of worship.

Security analysts have warned that attacks on religious institutions in Nigeria are increasingly alarming, highlighting the need for enhanced protection for churches, mosques, and other faith-based facilities. Authorities have assured residents that investigations are being conducted meticulously, and those responsible will face the full force of the law.

Police have appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to ensure the protection of religious sites and prevent future incidents.

Suspected Arsonists Set St. Mary’s Catholic Church Ablaze in Cross River

Edo Police Arrest 113 Suspected Kidnappers in Major Overnight Raids

The Edo State Police Command has arrested 113 suspected kidnappers during coordinated security raids across Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as part of an intensified crackdown on kidnapping and related criminal networks in the state.

The arrests were confirmed on Thursday in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who said the operation was carried out in the early hours of the day, at about 3:00 a.m., following actionable intelligence.

According to the statement, security agencies uncovered credible information indicating that ransom payments from kidnapping operations were being coordinated and received at designated locations popularly known as “zangos” in Agbede and Iruekpen.

Acting on the intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, personally led a joint task force operation involving operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, vigilante groups, and local hunters.

Police said the coordinated raids targeted settlements where suspected kidnappers and their collaborators allegedly converged to receive ransom proceeds, regroup, and blend with unsuspecting members of the public. The operation resulted in the arrest of 113 suspects, all of whom are currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation to establish individual levels of involvement.

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The command said suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, adding that investigations are ongoing to uncover wider kidnapping cells, financial channels, and logistics networks operating within and outside Edo State.

Agbonika reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain an unrelenting and uncompromising offensive against kidnapping syndicates, stressing that the fight would go beyond armed elements hiding in forests to include financial sponsors, informants, and logistics providers.

He assured residents that security agencies would continue to disrupt criminal supply chains, dismantle safe havens, and intensify patrols across flashpoints identified through intelligence reports.

The police operation comes amid heightened public concern following a recent deadly attack in Iduah Kingdom, located in Esan West Local Government Area. Days before the raids, gunmen reportedly attacked the residence of a palace chief, resulting in multiple casualties.

Sources said Chief Jimah Jacob Ogboi was shot at close range during the attack, while his wife sustained severe machete injuries. Two of the chief’s daughters were also reportedly abducted and later killed by their captors, a development that sparked outrage and renewed calls for decisive security action.

A son of the family, identified as Lucky, reportedly said the attack occurred while he was away from home, adding that the assailants struck swiftly before escaping.

Reacting to the developments, the Edo State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, assuring the public that all information shared would be treated with strict confidentiality.

“The Edo State Police Command remains firm, proactive, and battle-ready to safeguard lives and property. There will be no hiding place for kidnappers or their collaborators anywhere in the state,” Agbonika said.

Edo Police Arrest 113 Suspected Kidnappers in Major Overnight Raids