Attacks Spiked 50 percent, Fatalities Up 90 Percent Since 2025
By Ezinwanne Onwuka
By week’s end, 18 Christian farmers were killed in Bokkos, Plateau State, in an attack by Fulani armed militia. Their deaths are part of a wider wave of violence across Nigeria in the past week that has left at least 53 people dead and 12 abducted, most of them farmers trying to make ends meet.
Twenty-five Killed in Middle Belt Attacks
Gunmen attacked the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos South county, Plateau State, late Monday night (June 15), killing three security personnel.
Days earlier, the attackers had pasted handwritten ransom demands on the doors of two senior officials — Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman-Mann, and Professor Haruna Dabin — demanding $100,000 and ₦15 million ($10,994), respectively.
At about 11:40 p.m. on Monday, the gunmen returned and opened fire on security personnel guarding the facility. Security operatives engaged them, but two soldiers and a police officer were killed in the exchange.
The following day (June 16), armed men identified by local sources as Fulani militia stormed a mining site in Gero village, Gyel District, in the same Jos South county — about 9 to 12 miles from NIPSS — and opened fire on workers.
Troops deployed to the area were alerted by fleeing miners. On arrival, they recovered two bodies, while residents had earlier removed another from the scene. Two injured victims were taken to a medical facility, where one later died, bringing the death toll to four.
Days later, on Saturday night (June 20), another mining site in Rim village, Riyom county, came under attack. This time, troops responded quickly, repelled the attackers, and evacuated an injured miner.
Violence escalated further on Sunday night (June 21), when no fewer than 18 Christian farmers were killed in Kawel village, Mushere District of Bokkos county. Daily Trust said the attack occurred at about 11:30 p.m., leaving several others injured.
14 Killed, 10 Abducted in Northwest
In Zamfara State, three police officers were killed on Monday (June 15) when an improvised explosive device detonated along the Anka–Bagega road.
The officers, part of an explosives unit, had moved to defuse a suspected device when their armored vehicle ran over the IED.
Mugira Yusuf, a media aide to Governor Dauda Lawal, identified the deceased officers as Superintendent Abdulrazak Hassan and Inspectors Murtala Musa and Auwal Ahmad.
After the explosion, armed men emerged from nearby forest, set the damaged vehicle on fire, and withdrew.
In neighboring Kaduna State, gunmen entered Ungwan Magaji village in Kauru county, late Tuesday (June 16), with the assault continuing into the early hours of Wednesday (June 17).
Residents said the attackers fired into homes and assaulted people at close range. Nine people, mostly Christians, were killed. Eleven others were seriously injured.
A statement by Comrade Daniel Sunday Dodo, group leader of the Kikoba/Kizakro Joint Task Force seen by TruthNigeria, said: “The attackers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately and used machetes, axes, and knives on defenseless residents, including women and young children.”
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the assault but said it happened on Monday night.
On Saturday morning (June 20), troops repelled an attack in Sanga county, though one civilian was killed in the crossfire.
Along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari road, gunmen described by local media as “repentant bandits” opened fire on a commercial vehicle, killed the driver, and abducted at least five people.
In a separate incident, four farmers were kidnapped while working in the Kurgi area of Birnin Gwari county. Local reports did not confirm the exact dates of both attacks.
In Sokoto State, in Nigeria’s Northwest region bordering Niger Republic, troops disrupted two abduction attempts and rescued 22 kidnapped victims on Thursday (June 18).
Gunmen had blocked the Sabon Birni–Shinkafi road at Kura Mota village and attacked two commercial vehicles, killing one civilian and abducting several others. Security forces pursued the attackers, forcing them to abandon the 17 captives.
In a second operation, five farmers were rescued after gunmen attempted to abduct them in Chohi village, Isa county. Military spokesman Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja said troops responded to a distress call and pursued the attackers as they retreated.
“The aggressive pursuit by the troops resulted in the successful rescue of five kidnapped farmers, who were later reunited with their families,” he said.
In Kebbi State, on Nigeria’s far western border area with Benin Republic, gunmen attacked Tsamiya town late Saturday (June 20), firing sporadically and burning several properties, including a makeshift checkpoint belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Before security forces arrived, the attackers fled with one abducted resident.
Farmers Targeted in Northeast, 14 Killed
In Borno State, Boko Haram terrorists abducted two farmers — a man and a woman — in Mussa community, Askira-Uba county, on Thursday afternoon (June 18). The kidnappers are demanding ₦7 million ($5,131) for their release.
The attack has escalated tension within Mussa, a community already reeling from the previous mass kidnapping of over 40 schoolchildren.
Over the weekend, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed eleven farmers in Borno.
Seven were killed in Kuwawu village. The victims had traveled from the nearby town of Monguno to work on their fields when they were attacked. In a separate incident, four other farmers were killed while working on farmland near Kross Kauwa in the Lake Chad region.
In Adamawa State, three boys abducted from Hullere Gwalamba in Yola North county on June 12 were killed despite a partial ransom payment of ₦500,000 (US$365.91) by their family amidst ongoing negotiations.
The victims were aged 24, 8, and 10. Police said one suspect has been arrested in connection with the killings.
Nigeria Recoils from 90 Percent Rise in Killings
Meanwhile, data from Nextier’s Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database shows that in May 2026 alone, 842 people were killed and 279 abducted across 156 incidents nationwide.
Compared with the same period in 2025, the figures show a sharp increase: violent incidents rose by 51.5 percent, fatalities by 90.1 percent, and kidnappings by 19.7 percent.
Ezinwanne Onwuka is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
