Armed groups have stepped up attacks across parts of northern Nigeria following United States air strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State.
Investigations by Saturday PUNCH indicate that at least 47 people have been killed and 35 abducted between 25 December 2025 and 2 January 2026.
The incidents — blamed on bandits, ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters, occurred in communities across Adamawa, Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Yobe and Kano states.
Last Christmas, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that US forces had carried out lethal strikes on Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria and warned of further action if Christians continued to be targeted.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters later said intelligence gathered before the mission confirmed the presence of terrorists in the area, adding that a battle damage assessment was ongoing.
Renewed wave of violence
However, security reporting between 25 December and 2 January shows a sharp rise in attacks, with numerous communities coming under fresh assault.
A review of media reports suggests that at least 82 people were either killed or kidnapped during the period, including more than 35 abducted and 47 killed, while over 12 sustained injuries. The true abduction figure may be higher, as some reports did not provide numbers.
In Kogi State, suspected bandits abducted several residents during attacks on the Omi-Ara and Odo-Ere communities in Yagba West LGA. On 30 December, women and children travelling from Wanke to Gusau were kidnapped but were later rescued by security personnel.
In Kwara State, gunmen attacked Adanla community in Ifelodun LGA on 27 December and abducted more than eight people. Two days later, coordinated attacks in Kebbi State left at least eight people dead in Kaiwa, Gelawu and Gebbe villages in Shanga LGA.
In Zamfara State, 16 women were abducted, two people killed and several others injured when Sabon-Layi village in Wanke district, Gusau LGA, was attacked. Seven farmers were also reported killed during an assault on Bum community in Jos South LGA, Plateau State.
The traditional ruler of Aafin community in Kwara State, Oba S. Y. Olaonipekun, and one of his sons, a National Youth Service Corps member, were abducted in Ile-Ire district, Ifelodun LGA.
In Nasarawa State, gunmen attacked Kunza community in Ashigye village, Lafia LGA, on 31 December, killing three people and injuring nine others. On 26 December, bandits kidnapped five travellers along the Ogbe-Egbe Road, injuring one other person.
ISWAP also claimed responsibility for firing mortars at a Nigerian military base in Goniri, Yobe State, although no casualty details were provided.
On Wednesday, security analyst Brant Phillips reported that ISWAP raided a village, killing 11 Christians, whom the group described as “hostile”, destroying a church and more than 100 houses. This is reportedly the first time ISWAP has used such terminology, mirroring language recently employed by ISCAP.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Trump, via X, to launch follow-up strikes to sustain pressure on the militants.
Boko Haram kills 14 in Adamawa
The Chairman of Hong LGA in Adamawa State, Usman Inuwa, confirmed that Boko Haram militants killed 14 people in overnight attacks on Mubang and Zar villages, close to the Sambisa Forest. Two others were injured and dozens of houses and food stores were burnt.
He said previous military and vigilante patrols had helped repel past attacks but the area’s vast ungoverned terrain made it vulnerable.
In Kano State, bandits attacked several villages in Shanono LGA on Thursday night, killing one person and rustling cattle after a prolonged gun battle with the military. Local security leaders said the attackers were on a revenge mission after losing nine members in an earlier clash. However, the Nigerian Army later clarified that no deaths or cattle rustling were recorded.
Fighters move toward Niger and Kaduna
A community leader revealed that militants displaced by the US strikes in Sokoto may be attempting to infiltrate Niger and Kaduna states via routes through Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi, while others are reportedly moving towards Kwara and parts of the South-West.
He said local armed groups had tightened internal discipline to prevent infiltration, while unfamiliar persons were being denied access to communities without clearance. Aerial surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly increased across Birnin-Gwari, Niger State and border areas near Kebbi.
Meanwhile, suspected bandits on Wednesday night invaded Adanla, near Igbaja in Ifelodun LGA, abducting eight residents and injuring others, triggering panic and displacement among locals.
Relative calm in Sokoto
Findings show that no fresh attacks have been recorded in Sokoto State since the US air strikes. Residents report that insecurity has reduced in previously volatile communities, with some attributing the lull to militants fleeing their hideouts.
A resident of Rabbah said: “We have not witnessed any attacks recently. Some of the criminals were reportedly wiped out, while others fled. We pray this peace continues.”
