₦airaland Forum

A few days into the year 2025, renewed onslaught by daredevil terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements is sending fearful signal across many parts of the country.


DAILY POST reports that there has been a series of unprovoked attacks on unsuspecting civilians and security operatives by non-state actors, causing tension across the nation.

According to reports, over 78 people were killed, while 80 others were kidnapped across different states in the first week of January 2025.


The wanton killings

On Saturday, January 4, about eight soldiers were reportedly killed when terrorists attacked a military base at Sabon Gari in Dambo LGA of Borno State.

Similarly, bandits attacked the Natsini village in Argungu LGA of Kebbi State the same day and murdered two people, as confirmed by the spokesperson for the Kebbi Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar.


More worrisome was the attack on Charanci, Safana, Kurfi, and Kaita Local Government Areas of Katsina State where over 30 persons were murdered by bandits between Tuesday and Thursday.

It was gathered that the victims were ambushed by dreaded gunmen while returning from a condolence visit in Batsari LG Area of the state.

Meanwhile, while bandits were launching the deadly attacks in Borno and Kebbi States, unknown gunmen were operating in the Umuokanne area of Imo State where about three persons were killed.


Hours after the Umuokanne incident, the assailants launched another deadly attack in Orsu LGA of Imo State, killing at least 18 persons.

According to locals, the attack which happened in communities like Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe triggered tension across the state, forcing many residents to abandon their homes.

On January 5, suspected bandits killed the Katsina State Acting Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Amadu Surajo and three others at Mai Rana village in Kusada LGA.


No fewer than 11 people were also gruesomely murdered by bandits in Gululu village in Jahun and Miga LGAs, earlier in the week, escalating tensions across the state.

On Wednesday, January 8, another deadly attacks were recorded in Katsina State when bandits invaded Idu village in Kufana District, Kajuru LGA, killing two villagers.

The same day, two officers were killed in an attack by Boko Haram terrorists at the Nganzai Police Division in Borno State.

Similarly, gunmen reportedly killed a farmer, Terzungwe Shaku, in Akor village of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Shaku, who also owned a drinking joint at Akor market, was abducted shortly before the New Year and held hostage for over two weeks before he was killed.

Locals said initially, the kidnappers demanded N20 million but the family negotiated N5.4 million, which they agreed and the family paid.

In another development, suspected gunmen from the Lakurawa terrorist group killed two staff members of Airtel and one resident of Gumki village in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State at the weekend.

It was gathered that the terrorists invaded the community, located between Nigeria and Niger Republic, after learning that the telecommunication company was installing a surveillance mast in the area.

Many kidnapped for ransom

Aside from the killing of unsuspecting Nigerians, many are currently languishing in hostages following their abduction by bloodthirsty bandits.

DAILY POST reports that over 40 people mostly women and children were kidnapped on Sunday, January 5, in Gana village of Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State.

On Tuesday, January 7, unknown gunmen attacked and kidnapped two Catholic reverend sisters on Ufuma Road in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State.

The victims were abducted while they were returning from a vocational association meeting in Ogboji.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, January 9, gunmen suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen attacked Enugu-Ezike community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State and abducted over 33 passengers, including soldiers.

The incident happened along the Enugu-Ezike-Kogi road, a major link between Enugu and the North-Central region.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering about 17, ambushed three buses on the bad portion of the road, forcing passengers into the bush.

Among the victims were three soldiers traveling from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna in one of the commercial buses.

Over 1,000 displaced in Benue

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, stated on Thursday last week that over 1,000 households were displaced in a series of attacks on communities across the state within a week.

The governor also confirmed that there were about 500,182 displaced persons spread across 26 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in the state.

“These individuals are dispersed across 26 camps and 185 host communities, enduring conditions that are far from ideal.

“They grapple with inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water and sanitation, insufficient healthcare services, and a lack of robust protection mechanisms”, the governor added.

Tension in South West over influx of bandits

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Monday January 6, raised the alarm about the influx of bandits into the South West region.

Governor Makinde, while speaking at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, disclosed that bandits being dislodged from the North-West of Nigeria were infiltrating his state.

“During a security briefing this morning, I learned that some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones”, he said.

DAILY POST gathered on Saturday that security agencies across the South-West have ramped up measures to tackle the security threat.

This includes intensified border patrols and enhanced collaboration among the police, Amotekun, and military forces in the region.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi called on all the governors of the region to, “as a matter of urgency, hold a meeting to map out strategies to expel the bandits from the region and to ensure that such elements do not infiltrate Yorubaland at any time again”.

According to him, “there is the need to carry certain groups along. These are the security agencies that will implement whatever security decisions are reached, traditional rulers and heads of local vigilantes known as ‘Ode’”.

Commenting on the recent attacks, a security expert, Elder Ben Okezie called on governors and other relevant authorities to speed-up processes that would lead to the establishment of state police.

Okezie told DAILY POST in a chat that the creation of state police would help in tackling the security crisis, stating that “to ensure victory against the attackers, the law enforcement agencies must be decentralized”.

“There must be a properly trained personnel that totally under the control of State governments. The officers will be people withing the state, who understands the terrain and how these enemies operate.

“Another good thing is job opportunitie. With the establishment of state police, many jobs will be created and a number of those committing crimes due to joblessness will be drastically reduced,” he added.

greatiyk4u:
Enugu state Governor has tagged Major parts of the state with Urban area nomenclature yet no Urban developmental blueprint na just for the sake of taxation

PresidObi:
You really don't know what you're saying. Which blueprint are you talking about?

greatiyk4u:
Urban area na by nomenclature

helinues:
Rampage in some particular areas. Stop generalizing

PresidObi:
It's worse in some areas, you're right.

https://www.nairaland.com/8316658/kidnappers-kill-vigilante-member-abduct

helinues:
Rampage in some particular areas. Stop generalizing