THE WEEK: At least 35 people were killed and more than 70 abducted in a week of violence spanning Adamawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue and Niger States, as a Nigerian Army intelligence memo warns extremist groups may target churches, schools and NYSC camps.
By Ezinwanne Onwuka
ABUJA, Nigeria — Terrorist violence escalated sharply across Nigeria last week, leaving at least 35 people dead and more than 70 abducted in attacks across Adamawa, Sokoto, Kaduna and Benue States, according to reports seen by TruthNigeria. The surge comes as a Nigerian Army intelligence alert, dated Sept. 9, warned that extremist groups are mobilizing fighters and resources for possible coordinated attacks on churches, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other public facilities “any moment from now,” with suspected ISWAP operatives conducting reconnaissance on potential targets.
Army Intelligence Warns of Coordinated Attacks
A Nigerian Army intelligence alert warned of possible coordinated terrorist attacks on churches, schools, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps and other vulnerable targets across parts of Nigeria.
The alert, dated Sept. 9 and seen by TruthNigeria said terrorist groups were mobilizing resources and fighters for possible attacks in the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West.
The Army said Catholic and Protestant churches, primary and secondary schools and other vulnerable locations had been identified as potential targets.
It said the threat was reinforced by reports that scores of armed fighters were moving from Katsina through Kaduna toward Plateau State.
The intelligence report also said suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had begun surveillance and reconnaissance of identified targets with support from local collaborators.
Of particular concern, the Army said, was the targeting of educational institutions as schools prepared to resume for the 2026/27 academic session. The timing, it said, could be intended to exploit the concentration of students and staff to cause mass casualties and heighten public fear ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Army said the development suggested a possible progression from planning to preparatory activity and called for heightened vigilance around identified locations and other vulnerable facilities. It recommended intensified surveillance and enhanced defensive security around the identified targets and other public places.
Days after the alert, on Sunday, Sept. 13, terrorists attacked the Joint Security Task Force, codenamed Operation Burst, along the Igbeti axis of Oorelope County of Oyo State.
A large number of armed suspects stormed the joint security base between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and opened fire with heavy weapons.
The attackers set fire to a patrol van and a building block within the facility, destroying both.
The attack was repelled after the command mobilized personnel from sister security agencies, causing the suspects to flee into the surrounding forest, according to PUNCH.
12 Killed in Northeast
The first major attack was recorded in Nzangula, a rural farming community in Gombi County (Local Government Area) of Adamawa State, where suspected Boko Haram fighters killed 12 people and abducted a 10-year-old schoolgirl.
Residents told TruthNigeria that more than 50 attackers arrived on motorcycles shortly before 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, and remained in the community until about 4 a.m. Monday.
They said the attackers opened fire, ransacked homes and shops, looted medical facilities and attacked a church, the EYN Nzangula Kilba Cathedral.
Gombi Local Government Chairman Markus Ishaya confirmed 12 deaths, two injuries and the abduction of a woman. He also said the church, three houses and two shops were damaged. Residents told TruthNigeria that the abducted victim was a 10-year-old schoolgirl.
By Monday afternoon, residents had buried 10 men and two women in a mass funeral.
The attack added to growing insecurity in rural Adamawa, where residents have repeatedly complained about difficulties in getting security forces to their communities quickly when attackers strike.
It came less than two weeks after another deadly attack in neighbouring Hong County that reportedly killed more than 10 people.
Northwest: Bandits Target Communities, Security Personnel, Clerics
In Sokoto State, suspected bandits moved through communities in Rabah, Isa and Dange Shuni Counties. In Tofa, Rabah County, the attackers reportedly killed residents, abducted others and stole livestock on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Reports differed on the toll. PUNCH reported that 10 people were killed and between 38 and 40 abducted. Daily Trust reported that seven people were killed and 35 initially abducted. It said eight later returned, leaving 27 people in captivity. Authorities had not established a definitive figure.
In Tidibale village, Isa County, residents told Daily Trust that bandits invaded on Saturday, Sept. 5, killing five people and abducting about 50 others. The attack was not included in last week’s roundup. The attackers also reportedly burned vehicles belonging to soldiers stationed in the area.
In Dange Shuni County, a resident said two people were killed in Wababe and Rumbus communities, while two others were abducted.
Resident Uzairu Ibrahim Dilingu said gunshots were heard from the eastern axis at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, causing panic in communities including Sokondu, Wababe, Majiyya Gida and Bellar Koli. Residents later fled their homes after receiving warnings that the attackers were approaching.
Dilingu said the attackers spent about an hour around Kwannawar Jali before reportedly changing direction towards Adarawar Tumbus and Gurgawa. He said one of the victims, Nura Ali Dogo, was killed while returning from Dange town on a motorcycle, which the attackers also took away.
A Wababe resident, who asked not to be named, said the attackers entered the community at about 4 p.m. on Sunday and remained there until Monday morning. He said they killed a mentally challenged resident identified as Wadata Dan Wababe, popularly known as Achiku or Minister, before breaking into shops to steal goods and livestock.
According to him, residents sought assistance from security personnel but did not receive the expected intervention as the attackers raided several communities in the area.
Early Monday, Sept. 7, Fulani ethnic militia struck three communities in Kaduna State’s Giwa County, killing two residents, injuring another and abducting 26 people. The affected communities are Tunburku, Tudun Amada and Kallon Kura. Two people, were killed in Tunburku, while 26 residents were abducted in Tudun Amada.
Later that day, three members of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) were killed along the Zaria–Pambegua axis in Kubau County. The personnel were conducting routine security checks when they tried to stop a red Volkswagen. The driver refused to stop, according to KADVS spokesman Yunusa Ibrahim.
The vigilantes pursued the vehicle in an official patrol van. Dallami Dantani, the service’s second-in-command in Kubau, was killed during the pursuit. The attackers then reportedly turned back towards the KADVS office, where they killed two more personnel, Abdullahi Hamisu and Zakariyya Musa, before fleeing towards Zaria.
The same night, gunmen abducted Sanusi, the younger brother of Shehu Pambegua, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, from his residence.
In Zamfara State, six Islamic clerics (imams) were abducted on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Local media reported that the imams were abducted at the residence of former state governor Abdul’aziz Yari in Talata Mafara County, where more than 3,000 clerics from different Islamic sects across the state had gathered to pray for an end to insecurity in Zamfara and across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army, however, dismissed the report, saying the clerics were abducted while traveling from the Sububu forest axis in Bakura County to Talata Mafara.
19 Killed in Fresh Middle Belt Attacks
Niger State recorded another serious incident on Thursday, Sept. 10, when at least seven vigilantes were reportedly killed and eight others injured in Kukoki-Bassa, Shiroro County.
Community sources alleged that an explosion—reported as a suspected military airstrike from a Nigerian Air Force jet—killed seven local community guards or vigilantes and injured eight others. The community guards had assembled to discuss how to respond to suspected bandit movements in the area.
Ayuba Umar Kamas, the commander of the Kukoki vigilantes, confirmed the incident and said the group had been preparing for a possible attack by bandits. He said three aircraft were sighted in the area before one allegedly released a bomb that struck the gathering. Kamas said seven members were killed, while eight others were injured, some seriously.
He said the dead included four people from Kukoki, one from Bassa and three from Matuku. The injured were reportedly taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna for treatment.
Kamas alleged that the suspected bandits were traveling in a group of about 250 motorcycles and moving large numbers of rustled cattle through the area.
There was no official statement from the Nigerian Air Force, the Niger State Government or other security agencies confirming the alleged airstrike at the time of filing this report. The circumstances surrounding the reported bombing therefore remain unverified.
The same Wednesday, security personnel had discovered a suspected improvised explosive device at General Hospital New Bussa in Borgu County.
A security officer spotted the device at about 11:20 a.m., prompting the deployment of police explosive ordnance disposal personnel. They rendered it safe, removed it from the hospital and searched the facility.
The Niger State Police Command later confirmed the discovery and said security around the hospital had been reinforced. No one was killed or injured. Police did not identify who planted the device or disclose a possible motive.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, another mass-casualty attack struck Ayilamo community in Logo County of Benue State. Fulani ethnic militia entered the community at about 6:12 p.m. and fought police officers for more than seven hours.
Police Mobile Force personnel, tactical teams and conventional police officers eventually forced the attackers into the surrounding forest in the early hours of Friday, Sept. 11. Four police officers and eight Christian residents were killed.
The police identified the officers as ASP Paul Ina, Inspector Mohammed Yusuf, Inspector Oge Ikechukwu and Inspector Edeh Andrew.
Residents estimated that about 200 attackers entered the community from the direction of neighboring Taraba State and reported that houses were burned during the assault.
Ezinwanne Onwuka is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
