Blood, tears,deaths: 34 states record 137 cases of terror/kidnap attacks in four weeks

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•Borno, Benue, Ondo worst hit

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By Nnamdi Ojiego

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Nigeria’s deepening security crisis came into stark focus over the past four weeks, with no fewer than 137

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terror and kidnapping incidents recorded across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), underscoring the widening reach of violence across the country.

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Data compiled by Sunday Vanguard from across the states shows that Borno, Benue, and Ondo States emerged as the worst hit, accounting for some of the deadliest attacks and highest number of incidents within the period under review.

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From coordinated insurgent assaults in the North-East to mass killings in the North-Central and a surge in kidnappings in the South-West, the pattern reflects a crisis that is no longer confined to any one region.

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According findings, only Nasarawa and Jigawa States recorded no incidents during the period, offering a rare contrast in an otherwise widespread wave of violence

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Rising terror index

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The recent surge aligns with broader national trends.

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According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025 released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, Nigeria ranked fourth globally, with terror attacks rising by 43 percent, from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.

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The report identified Boko Haram and ISWAP as the main drivers of violence, accounting for the majority of fatalities.

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It also noted that civilians made up 67 percent of victims, underscoring a shift toward softer targets.

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Breakdown

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Across the North-East, Borno State recorded 19 incidents, the highest nationwide, reflecting sustained insurgent activity marked by coordinated assaults, mass abductions, and suicide bombings. Yobe, Bauchi and Adamawa had four each, including attacks on security formations and deadly village raids and abductions.

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Taraba recorded two incidents, while Gombe had three, largely involving attacks on farming communities.

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In the North-West, Sokoto State recorded eight incidents, driven by persistent bandit attacks and kidnappings.

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Katsina had four, while Zamfara and Kebbi recorded three incidents each, including mass casualty attacks and village raids.

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Kano State recorded one incident, a kidnapping case.

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The North Central zone showed intense pressure.

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Benue State recorded 10 incidents, including multiple village attacks in Kwande, Apa, and Otukpo, with dozens killed in separate assaults. Plateau State recorded five incidents, largely involving coordinated attacks on rural communities and security patrols.

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Kogi State had six incidents, many targeting highways and travellers. Niger State recorded seven incidents, including large-scale village attacks and ambushes on security personnel. Kwara recorded three incidents, including a major massacre in Kaiama.

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The Federal Capital Territory recorded eight incidents, mostly kidnappings in satellite communities around Bwari and Kubwa.

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In the South-East, Abia State recorded five incidents, including attacks on security personnel and kidnappings.

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Imo and Enugu recorded four each, involving raids on facilities and security operations and deadly attacks and abductions along highways.

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Ebonyi also recorded four, including the killing of a traditional ruler and child abductions.

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Anambra recorded three incidents, largely involving armed confrontations and attempted kidnappings.

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In the South-South, Edo State recorded five incidents, mostly kidnappings and related violence. Rivers State recorded four incidents, including multiple abductions. Bayelsa and Cross River States recorded two incidents each including kidnapping-related cases.

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Akwa Ibom State and Delta States recorded one incident each.

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In the South-West, Ondo State recorded 10 incidents, emerging as the most affected in the region, with killings, abductions, and attacks on farms and communities across Akure North and Owo axes.

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Oyo and Ekiti States recorded five incidents each, while Osun State recorded two and Ogun State recorded one.

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Lagos State had one unconfirmed incident linked to highway kidnappings.

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Notably, Nasarawa and Jigawa States recorded no attacks within the period under review, with their last reported incidents occurring in January 2026.

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Deadly attacks

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The incidents were marked by heavy casualties across several regions, with some states recording mass killings on a scale rarely seen outside insurgency zones.

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In Borno State, coordinated insurgent operations, including the invasion of Ngoshe and repeated assaults on military formations, left scores dead, with about 300 civilians abducted in one attack alone.

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In Benue State, a series of attacks across Kwande, Apa, and Agatu LGAs resulted in over 70 deaths, alongside multiple abductions and widespread displacement.

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The situation in Kwara State was particularly severe.

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In a single attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, over 200 residents were reportedly killed, while 175 others, including men, women, and children, were abducted.

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Many of those abducted remain in captivity, making it one of the deadliest incidents recorded in the period under review.

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In Niger State, attacks on communities such as Tungan Makeri and surrounding areas reportedly left dozens dead, with entire settlements razed and residents forced to flee.

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Similarly, in Zamfara State, a mass casualty attack in Tungan Dutse allegedly claimed over 50 lives, in addition to large-scale abductions.

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In the South-West, Ondo State recorded multiple killings, including the murder of a traditional ruler and several farmers, reflecting a rise in the lethality of attacks in the region.

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Across the country, civilians remained the primary victims, with many of the attacks deliberately targeting rural communities, travellers, and places of worship.

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Protests and rising fear

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Public anger has followed closely behind the violence.

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In Oyo State, residents staged protests along major highways, including the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, condemning repeated kidnappings and what they described as weak enforcement.

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In Ondo State, communities in Akure North and surrounding areas repeatedly blocked highways, in some cases displaying corpses of victims to draw attention to their plight.

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Protesters demanded direct intervention from the government, citing an inability to access farms and rising ransom demands.

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Elsewhere, fear has reshaped daily life.

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Rural communities in Benue and Niger, and parts of the South-East reported displacement, with residents abandoning homes and farmlands.

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In the FCT outskirts, residents described living under constant threat, with kidnappers issuing ransom instructions directly to communities.

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Interventions

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Security agencies have responded with a mix of operations and reactive measures.

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In Borno, troops under Operation Hadin Kai carried out sustained offensives, repelling attacks, killing insurgents, and rescuing abducted civilians.

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In Niger and Kebbi, military deployments were reinforced following mass casualty attacks, while joint task forces conducted clearance operations in affected communities.

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Authorities in Ondo launched coordinated patrols involving the police, army, and Amotekun Corps, alongside mass arrests of suspected kidnappers.

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Similar crackdowns were reported in Imo and Abia States, where security forces raided suspected camps and made arrests.

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In Abuja, joint operations led to the rescue of kidnapped victims in Bwari, though attacks continued in nearby communities.

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Despite these efforts, many residents and local leaders argue that responses remain largely reactive, with calls for permanent security bases, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger rural protection strategies.

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Under strain

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With 137 incidents in just four weeks, the data points to a security challenge that is both widespread and evolving.

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While states such as Nasarawa and Jigawa recorded no attacks during the period, the overall pattern suggests that insecurity has taken on a national character, cutting across regions once considered relatively stable.

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The figures, taken together, raise fresh questions about the capacity of existing security frameworks to contain a threat that is no longer confined to any one part of the country.

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Additional reports by Dayo Johnson, Ndahi Marama, Ozioruva Aliu, Jimitota Onoyume, Demola Akinyemi, Golok Nanmwa, Musa Ubandawaki, Femi Bolaji, Peter Duru, Adeola Badru and Rotimi Ojomoyela

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