Armed
groups have intensified attacks across parts of northern Nigeria following
United States air strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto
State.
Findings revealed that no fewer than 47 people have
been killed and 35 kidnapped between December 25, 2025, and January 2, 2026.
Some of
the attacks were carried out on communities in Adamawa, Zamfara, Kwara,
Plateau, Nasarawa, Yobe and Kano states by bandits, ISWAP and Boko Haram
fighters.
President
Donald Trump, last Christmas, announced in a post on his Truth Social platform
that US forces conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in
Northwestern Nigeria, and vowed more attacks if the militants keep killing
Christians.
The
Defence Headquarters later said intelligence gathered ahead of the mission
confirmed the presence of terrorists in the area, adding that a battle damage
assessment was still ongoing.
However, monitoring of security incidents between December 25 and January 2 shows an escalation in violence, with many communities coming under renewed assault.
A tally
of media reports indicates that at least 82 people were either killed or
kidnapped during the period.
The
figure includes more than 35 people abducted and 47 killed, while over 12
others sustained injuries.
The
actual number of abductees may be higher, as some reports did not disclose
figures.
Several
people were abducted when suspected bandits attacked the Omi-Ara community in
Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
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In the
same council, gunmen also attacked the Odo-Ere community on Sunday night and
abducted at least four residents.
On 30
December, women and children travelling from Wanke to Gusau were kidnapped but
were later rescued by security forces.
On 27
December, suspected bandits attacked the Adanla community in the Ifelodun LGA
of Kwara State and abducted more than eight people.
On 29
December, at least eight people were killed when gunmen carried out coordinated
attacks on Kaiwa, Gelawu and Gebbe villages in the Shanga LGA of Kebbi State.
In
Zamfara State, 16 women were abducted, two people were killed, and several
others were injured when Sabon-Layi village in the Wanke district of Gusau LGA
was attacked.
At least
seven farmers were reported killed during an attack in Bum community in Jos
South LGA of Plateau State.
The
traditional ruler of Aafin community, Oba S. Y. Olaonipekun, and one of his
sons, who is a National Youth Service Corps member, were abducted in the
Ile-Ire district of Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State.
Gunmen
also attacked Kunza community in Ashigye village in Lafia LGA of Nasarawa
State, killing three people and injuring nine others on 31 December.
On 26
December, bandits kidnapped five travellers along the Ogbe-Egbe Road and
injured one other person.
ISWAP
also claimed it fired mortars at a Nigerian military camp in Goniri, Yobe
State, although the extent of damage was not disclosed.
On
Wednesday, a security analyst, Brant Phillips, said ISWAP raided a village,
killing 11 “hostile” Christians, destroying a church and over 100 houses and
capturing their properties.
This is
the first time ISWAP refers to a group of Christians as being “hostile”,
following ISCAP using this same wording recently.
A former
United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in a post on X, urged Trump to
conduct a follow-up strike to increase the pressure on the terrorists.
He said,
“Nigeria’s Christians deserve the chance to worship our Lord without fear. If
President Trump follows up last week’s strikes against ISIS with a sustained
pressure campaign, we’ll see important advances for religious freedom in
Nigeria and beyond.”
“These
villages are located near Sambisa forest, and there are no other villages in
between. It is a vast empty land, so Boko Haram took advantage of the
ungoverned spaces to attack and kill innocent people”, he said.
Inuwa
added that a combined team of military and vigilante in the past guarded the
area, repelling Boko Haram attacks.
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