Renewed violence across parts of Northern Nigeria has intensified fears among residents, amid debate over the potential impact of recent United States military support to the country.
In Zamfara State, residents of Dan Jibga and Keta communities in Tsafe Local Government Area report that their towns remain under siege by armed bandits who have allegedly blocked security operatives from accessing the area. According to local accounts, an attempt by security personnel to enter the communities last week ended in casualties after an explosive device detonated between the two towns, killing some operatives and injuring others. The failed operation has left villagers trapped and living in fear.
Violence has also escalated in Plateau State. In Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas, at least twelve people were reportedly killed in separate attacks by armed assailants, triggering fresh displacement as families fled to safer communities. In a related development, suspected militia members allegedly carried out a reprisal attack along the Pankshin road, killing four Muslim travelers heading to a local market, further inflaming longstanding communal tensions.
Security concerns are equally mounting in Kebbi State, where bandits reportedly demanded N100 million from residents of Utouno in Ngaski Local Government Area, threatening violence if the ransom is not paid. The ultimatum has forced several families to flee.
Amid the worsening insecurity, the arrival of U.S. personnel to support Nigeria’s security efforts has generated public discussion about possible immediate relief. However, retired military officer and security analyst Major Muhammad Bashir Galma (Rtd) cautioned against expecting instant results. He explained that the U.S. mission is focused primarily on training and capacity building, not direct combat.
According to Galma, training involves equipping Nigerian forces with new skills, strategies, and possibly technical resources—processes that require time, planning, and coordination before tangible outcomes can emerge. He added that political interference and vested interests benefiting from instability could further complicate progress.
While international collaboration may strengthen Nigeria’s security framework over time, affected communities say their immediate priority remains safety and survival.
