Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Banditry

  • Niger State extends school shutdown in high-risk areas, sets new resumption date

    Niger State extends school shutdown in high-risk areas, sets new resumption date

    Reporting by The Nation indicates the Niger State government has kept schools in security-affected areas closed, directing only institutions in safer locations to resume based on official guidance.

    Officials warned that any private school resuming without clearance may face sanctions, as authorities try to manage learning continuity without compromising student safety.

    The decision underscores how insecurity is increasingly shaping education administration, with partial closures becoming a crisis-management tool in vulnerable zones.

    Echotitbits take: Education disruption is becoming a secondary crisis of insecurity. Watch for ward-by-ward safety classifications, how exam schedules are protected, and whether alternative learning options are funded for students in closed areas.

    Source: SaharaReporters — January 4, 2026 (https://saharareporters.com/2026/01/02/niger-government-warns-private-schools-shelve-resumption-threatens-sanctions)

    SaharaReporters January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: SaharaReporters

  • Northern Communities Face Retaliatory Surge Following U.S. Strikes on Terrorist Cells

    Northern Communities Face Retaliatory Surge Following U.S. Strikes on Terrorist Cells

    Reporting by BusinessDay indicates a sharp rise in attacks across northern Nigeria following recent United States-backed airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State. Between late December 2025 and the first days of 2026, at least 47 deaths and 35 abductions have been documented.

    The violence has spread across Adamawa, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, with local leaders reporting nighttime raids on vulnerable villages. Despite the tactical success of the airstrikes, the immediate aftermath has seen bandit groups and Boko Haram remnants intensify their operations against civilian targets.

    The Cable confirmed these developments, reporting that ‘attacks intensify across northern Nigeria after U.S. strikes’ as insurgents regroup. In response, the Defence Headquarters issued a warning to civilians, stating: ‘We do not expect civilians to pick up or keep such materials,’ referring to unexploded ordnance found at strike sites.

    Echotitbits take: While international military support provides a technological edge, it often triggers ‘asymmetric’ retaliation. The Nigerian military must pivot from strike-based operations to ground-level community protection to prevent these ‘revenge’ cycles from displacing more thousands.

    Source: Chosun — https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2025/12/27/PNB7UGLHP5AQVEOKNB6ZTUFITE/
    Chosun January 3, 2026

    Photo Credit: Chosun

  • Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    2026-01-01 07:30:00
    Figures cited by Punch show the Nigerian Air Force says it neutralised 2,351 terrorists in 2025 through sustained air interdiction operations across multiple theatres.

    The service said repeated sorties were aimed at severing supply chains, disrupting movement corridors, and weakening leadership structures across key conflict zones.

    Beyond counter-terror missions, the NAF also highlighted operations targeting oil theft infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

    The Whistler quoted the NAF describing the campaign as “Sustained precision strikes” that “disrupted supply chains.”

    The Guardian Nigeria also reported targeted strikes led to the destruction of illegal refining reservoirs and related assets.

    Echotitbits take:

    Headline numbers need verification. Watch whether 2026 sees fewer mass abductions and attacks in high-risk corridors, and whether air gains are matched by ground holding operations and community intelligence.

    Source: The Punch — January 1, 2026 (https://punchng.com/2351-terrorists-killed-in-2025-air-raids-naf/)

    The Punch 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    2026-01-01 07:25:00
    Reporting by Reuters indicates Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters deployed GPS-guided precision munitions in operations targeting militant enclaves in Sokoto State.

    The report suggests the strikes were aimed at degrading command structures and limiting mobility routes in forest corridors used by armed groups, amid pressure to show measurable security gains.

    The implication is a shift toward more technology-driven targeting that could reduce risk to ground troops while expanding the air campaign footprint.

    ThisDay also reported Nigeria’s military used “GPS-guided precision munitions” in the Sokoto operation.

    A separate local follow-up likewise described strikes intended to disrupt bandit enclaves and logistics routes.

    Echotitbits take:

    Tech can improve targeting, but success depends on intelligence quality and post-strike ‘hold’ operations. Watch for independent confirmation, civilian-harm reporting, and whether communities experience fewer raids afterward.

    Source: Reuters — December 31, 2025 (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-used-gps-guided-precision-munitions-sokoto-strikes-via-mq-9s-sources-say-2025-12-31/)

    Reuters 2025-12-31

    Photo Credit: Reuters

  • Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    Ondo Amotekun arrests 39 suspects after Sokoto airstrike spillover scare

    2025-12-31 09:07:00

    Reporting by PUNCH indicates the Ondo State Amotekun Corps arrested 39 suspects it says fled Sokoto State and moved into forest reserves in Ondo following recent airstrikes targeting extremist hideouts in the North‑West.

    The corps said the arrests were made near the Elegbeka axis in Ose LGA during an operation that also netted other suspects linked to kidnapping and armed robbery, as the state tightens security around forest corridors.

    Officials said profiling is ongoing, including possible prosecution or handover to relevant authorities depending on the outcome of investigations.

    Channels Television reported that the suspects “confessed that they are fleeing from the northern part of the country due to the recent attacks launched against them,” while TheCable wrote Amotekun “has arrested 39 suspected terrorists who allegedly fled Sokoto and relocated to forest reserves in the state.”

    Echotitbits take: This is the ‘balloon effect’ of counter‑terror pressure—fighters scatter into softer targets and forest belts. Expect more inter‑state coordination in the South‑West and tighter controls on forest reserves; watch how prosecution is handled to avoid recycling suspects.

    Source: The Punch — December 31, 2025 (https://punchng.com/us-strike-39-fleeing-sokoto-suspects-arrested-in-ondo/)

    The Punch December 31, 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Fresh Bandit Attacks Kill Residents, Spark New Abductions Across the North

    Fresh Bandit Attacks Kill Residents, Spark New Abductions Across the North

    2025-12-30 18:00:00

    According to Punch, fresh bandit attacks left multiple casualties in Kebbi and triggered abductions in Zamfara, underscoring the expanding footprint of violent groups across northern corridors.

    The report said eight people were killed in attacks on communities in Kebbi, while gunmen abducted women in Zamfara in a separate incident, intensifying pressure on rural communities.

    Security analysts say the speed and spread of attacks suggest persistent operational freedom for armed groups and weak inter‑state coordination.

    Channels Television reported on the Kebbi assault, saying gunmen struck villages and left “eight persons” dead. Premium Times also reported a related kidnapping case in Kwara, noting abductors demanded “N500 million ransom” for five road construction workers.

    Echotitbits take: These attacks show armed groups still exploit porous boundaries and local intelligence gaps. Watch for coordinated inter‑state operations, stronger rural intelligence networks, and tougher disruption of ransom logistics and cash‑out channels.

    Source: The Punch — December 30, 2025 (https://punchng.com/banditry-eight-killed-in-kebbi-attack-16-abducted-in-zamfara/)

    The Punch 2025-12-30

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Gombe attack leaves two dead, four abducted as governor condemns violence

    Gombe attack leaves two dead, four abducted as governor condemns violence

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    Punch reports that gunmen attacked homes in Pindiga, Akko LGA of Gombe State, killing two residents and abducting four others, prompting condemnation and pledges of action from the state government.

    Other reports add police timing and incident details, describing the raid as an early-hours attack on residential homes along the Pindiga–Kashere axis.

    The incident reinforces the persistence of night raids and abductions in parts of northern Nigeria, raising pressure on security response and community intelligence systems.

    The Guardian quotes police saying the incident occurred at “about 3:30 am,” while TVC News reports the attack happened “in the early hours of Sunday.”

    Echotitbits take: The metric is not statements—it’s prevention and rescue. Watch for swift pursuit operations, credible intelligence loops, and whether arrests/prosecutions follow (often the missing link).

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/gombe-gov-fumes-as-gunmen-kill-two-abduct-four/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Bandit raid after Christmas: Adanla community in Kwara hit, residents report multiple abductions

    Bandit raid after Christmas: Adanla community in Kwara hit, residents report multiple abductions

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Reporting by PUNCH indicates suspected bandits invaded Adanla community in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State and abducted several residents after Christmas celebrations, leaving the area gripped by fear.

    Local leaders said the attackers moved house-to-house, firing shots and forcing residents into submission before fleeing with victims.

    Security responders were alerted, though residents demanded faster protection for rural communities facing expanding bandit routes.

    SaharaReporters quoted a community source saying, “Our peaceful community is in deep sorrow, grief and agony,” while PUNCH quoted a local security coordinator: “At about 7:30pm… bandits had entered the community.”

    Echotitbits take: Kwara sits near multiple transit corridors—security coordination must be regional, not state-siloed. Watch for whether forest-guard programs and community watch networks get better intelligence support.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/seven-feared-kidnapped-by-bandits-in-kwara-community/)

    The Punch December 27, 2025
    https://punchng.com/seven-feared-kidnapped-by-bandits-in-kwara-community/

  • FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    In a report published by Punch, the federal government said thousands of newly recruited forest guard operatives have completed training ahead of deployment across northern states.

    The initiative is presented as part of a wider push to curb banditry and improve security in forested corridors often linked to armed groups.

    TheCable’s newspaper roundup said “7,000 newly recruited forest guards… have completed a three-month intensive training programme,” reflecting how multiple dailies framed the move as a new layer in the security architecture.

    Echotitbits take: The headline number is less important than command-and-control, rules of engagement, funding, and coordination with police, DSS and the military. Watch whether the programme becomes community-embedded intelligence—or just another uniformed layer with unclear accountability.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-7000-forest-guards-in-north/)

    The Punch 2025-12-27

  • IED blasts on Zamfara highway leave travellers feared dead

    IED blasts on Zamfara highway leave travellers feared dead

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Punch reports that two suspected improvised explosive devices detonated along a highway in Zamfara State, with early accounts indicating fatalities and injuries among travellers.

    Authorities were said to be assessing the scene and casualty figures, while residents raised renewed alarms about insecurity on key routes linking rural communities.

    TheCable’s newspaper review noted that “at least nine persons were killed… after two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated along the Magami–Dansadau road in Maru LGA of Zamfara,” echoing the incident details as they filtered into national coverage.

    Echotitbits take: Road insecurity is becoming a strategic economic risk—movement of food, goods and labour is disrupted long before official casualty counts settle. Watch for a coordinated response: patrols, intelligence-led sweeps, and safer transport corridors.

    Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/many-feared-dead-as-explosion-rocks-zamfara-highway/)

    The Punch 2025-12-28