Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Nigeria insecurity

  • Kogi church abduction: families say dozens still held weeks after attack

    Kogi church abduction: families say dozens still held weeks after attack

    According to Vanguard, families in Ayetoro-Kiri, Kabba/Bunu LGA of Kogi State say 30 worshippers remain in captivity weeks after gunmen attacked a church service and abducted congregants.

    Community sources said some hostages were released after ransom payments, while families alleged the ordeal has led to deaths and hospitalisations among those who regained freedom.

    The incident has renewed concerns about mass abductions along North-Central routes and the slow pace of rescue operations, with residents calling for stronger patrols and intelligence-led response.

    Echotitbits take: The Ayetoro-Kiri account fits a troubling pattern: large-scale abductions, unclear rescue timelines, and communities left to negotiate survival. Watch for verified security-agency operational updates, a reconciled casualty figure, and whether Kogi sustains patrol reinforcement on the Kabba–Lokoja corridor.

    Source: Facebook — January 4, 2026 (https://web.facebook.com/NigerianTribune/posts/three-dead-four-hospitalised-30-still-in-kidnappers-den-kogi-communitythe-people/1309715211184524/?_rdc=1&_rdr#)

    Facebook January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: Facebook

  • 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

  • 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/

  • NCTC warns Sahel coups are intensifying security pressure on Nigeria

    NCTC warns Sahel coups are intensifying security pressure on Nigeria

    Photo Credit: The Nation
    2025-12-24 07:55:00

    Reporting by The Nation indicates Nigeria’s counterterror leadership is linking Sahel instability to worsening insecurity at home, citing cross-border extremist networks and spillover effects.

    Officials argue that coups and the resulting security gaps in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have increased militant mobility, deepened recruitment, and complicated joint operations.

    The warning reinforces that Nigeria’s security challenge is increasingly transnational—requiring regional diplomacy, intelligence fusion, and stronger border controls.

    Major General Garba Laka said: “We have these countries facing these threats and we think we will see peace in Nigeria? No.” He added: “As long as those countries keep on facing this threat, Nigeria will continue facing the brunt.”

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria cannot stabilize fully if the Sahel remains a revolving door for armed groups. Watch for concrete steps on border surveillance, regional coordination, and local stabilization in frontline states.

    Source: The Nation — December 23, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/nctc-boss-coups-in-mali-niger-burkina-faso-worsen-security-in-nigeria/)
    The Nation 2025-12-23

  • Plateau Abductions: Families Told to Pay ₦1.5m Per Victim as Search Efforts Begin

    Plateau Abductions: Families Told to Pay ₦1.5m Per Victim as Search Efforts Begin

    Photo Credit: Premium Times
    2025-12-23

    According to Premium Times kidnappers who seized travellers in Plateau State demanded ₦1.5 million per person as ransom, including for women and children.

    The victims were reportedly travelling to a Maulud event when gunmen ambushed their vehicle in the Bashar District area of Wase LGA, after which the bus was left by the roadside.

    Relatives say contact has been made and demands communicated directly to families, raising concerns about timelines for rescue and the safety of the captives.

    Xinhua reported that police “have launched a search-and-rescue operation for at least 28 travelers kidnapped…”. Premium Times quoted a family member saying: “The kidnappers called me last night and said we must pay ₦1.5 million for each person…”.

    Echotitbits take: The pattern is becoming predictable—remote routes plus weak deterrence. Watch for concrete updates: arrests, rescued victims, and whether security presence increases on identified blackspots.

    Source: Premium Times — December 23, 2025 (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/844988-plateau-kidnappers-demand-%E2%82%A61-5m-ransom-for-each-of-28-travellers.html)
    Premium Times 2025-12-23

  • Gunmen Kill 12 Miners, Abduct Others in Plateau’s Barkin Ladi Area

    Gunmen Kill 12 Miners, Abduct Others in Plateau’s Barkin Ladi Area

    2025-12-18 00:00:00

    Vanguard reports that gunmen attacked a mining community in Plateau State, killing 12 people and abducting others in an assault that adds to security concerns around mining routes and rural settlements.

    Witness accounts cited in the report suggest the attackers struck at night, with security responders later evacuating bodies and searching surrounding areas.

    The incident has renewed calls for stronger protection for communities hosting artisanal and commercial mining activity.

    Punch also reported the incident, noting that victims were miners and that the attack occurred around Barkin Ladi in Plateau State. (Punch)

    Daily Post similarly reported the fatalities and abductions, describing the incident as another sign of worsening insecurity in parts of the North-Central. (Daily Post)

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Plateau’s repeated rural attacks highlight the need for better intelligence-led policing and tighter control of mining corridors where cash and minerals can attract violent groups. Watch for arrests, community-led early warning systems, and whether federal and state authorities deploy specialised security to mining belts.

    Source: Vanguard — December 18, 2025 (https://elanzanews.ng/gunmen-kill-12-miners-abduct-three-in-plateau/)

    Photo credit: Elanza News

  • US Lawmaker Visits Benue IDP Camps, Urges Global Attention

    US Congressman Riley Moore visited Benue IDP camps and cited testimonies describing severe violence and displacement. He called for increased global attention to the humanitarian situation.

    The visit adds to international scrutiny of Nigeria’s insecurity narrative and may intensify diplomatic pressure for stronger civilian protection.

    2025-12-10

    Punch Newspapers

    2025-12-10