Explosions, gunfire, and stolen vehicles rocked Kemanji Monday, leaving four soldiers dead, residents missing, and experts questioning which terror groups are infiltrating North-Central Nigeria.
By Onibiyo Segun
KEMANJI, Kaiama, Kwara state — A dawn assault on Kemanji Monday killed four soldiers, critically wounded a vigilante, and left several residents missing, exposing intelligence gaps and escalating fears of new terror networks in North-Central Nigeria.
The calm of Kemanji, a rural settlement near the Kwara–Niger border, was shattered around 3 a.m. as sustained gunfire and at least two confirmed explosions targeted a military patrol post and nearby positions.
Residents described chaos as attackers moved through the village, firing indiscriminately.
“They came in large numbers and started shooting immediately,” said Bayowa Ismail, a Kemanji resident told TruthNigeria.
“The soldiers tried to repel them, but the attackers had already gained ground.” Ismail added.
Based on eyewitness accounts and patterns from similar Ansaru-linked raids in Kwara, security analysts interviewed by TruthNigeria estimate the group numbered 20 to 35 terrorists, enough to coordinate multiple assault teams, deploy explosives, and control key village points simultaneously.
A military source confirmed that soldiers and vigilante forces engaged the assailants for nearly two hours.
Major Dele Jerome of Sobi Barracks confirmed the fatalities: four soldiers and one vigilante, Musa Bello, who remains in critical condition.
Salisu Abdullahi, a local hunter assisting in evacuation, described the explosions: “They used devices on the soldiers’ camp, giving them an immediate upper hand. It was terrifying.”
The attackers also seized two military patrol vehicles and four motorcycles.
Military sources tell TruthNigeria that the attack closely resembles tactics used by Ansaru-affiliated cells, which have struck Kwara communities in previous raids alongside local bandits.
Major Dele Jerome explained, “The method of infiltration, use of explosives on patrol posts, and selective targeting of both soldiers and residents aligns with patterns we’ve seen from Ansaru-linked groups, not ISWAP.”
Previous incidents support this assessment: in April 2026 – Terrorists Kill Five Villagers, Three Soldiers, Abduct Women and Children and Two Kwara Monarchs Abducted Again Amid Fulani Ethnic Militia Terror Attacks.
Public security analyst based in Minna, Niger state, Ibrahim Sule, interviewed by TruthNigeria, estimated that at least seven to ten residents were taken hostage during Monday’s attack.
Sule calculated that ransom demands could total ₦30–50 million ($33,000–$55,000), highlighting the financial incentive driving these violent incursions.
Sule noted, “it’s like a competition between Ansaru and ISWAP, each with distinct jihadist objectives but in North-Central Nigeria, their operations often overlap and are represented on the ground by Fulani Ethnic Militia terrorists, who carry out raids, kidnappings, and cattle rustling, amplifying the destruction across the region.”
Prince Afolabi Adeyemi, an APC chieftain, criticized Kwara state authorities for their silence, suggesting repeated attacks might aim to destabilize the Yoruba heartland.
Previous attacks provide context for the growing threat:
Terrorists Kill Forest Guard Commander, Others
Fulani Militias Attack Three Kwara Communities
Also, see: TruthNigeria Terror Tracker
Security Analyst Perspectives
Retired Colonel Demola Busari, Lagos-based defense analyst, said Monday’s assault signals a deliberate shift in insurgent strategy.
“Terror groups are now targeting soldiers and military assets directly, weakening operational command,” he told TruthNigeria.
Chigozie Ubani, a security analyst in Enugu, added, “Poorly paid, overstretched troops create vulnerability.”
“When command officers move closer to the front lines, exposure rises, giving terrorists a tactical advantage,” Ubani explained.
Colonel Akpan Odiata, a serving Nigerian Army officer, warned of potential intelligence leaks.
“When attackers demonstrate precise knowledge of troop locations, timing, and defenses, you cannot dismiss insider involvement,” he said.
The Expanding War Zone
Kwara is emerging as a new frontline of insurgency, facing insecurity that until recently was largely confined to Nigeria’s Northeast.
Defense analyst Colonel Demola Busari, Lagos-based, told TruthNigeria, “This is clearly the handiwork of the Ansaru terrorist group operating in North-Central Nigeria.”
“Their primary targets are military personnel, formations, and Christian communities, often using hit-and-run tactics.” Busari explained.
Residents report abandoned homes and shuttered businesses, signaling early signs of mass displacement.
Observers warn that if networks continue gaining traction, areas on Lagos’ outskirts could be next, expanding terror influence toward the country’s economic heartland.
Families in Kemanji remain displaced and anxious, awaiting confirmation on missing loved ones as authorities have yet to publicly address the attack or outline security measures.
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria.
