By Ezinwanne Onwuka
At least 39 civilians were killed and about 19 others abducted in a wave of attacks across Nigeria’s Northeast, Middle Belt, Northwest, and Southwest over the past week as armed groups targeted communities and travelers, while troops killed 10 insurgents and helped 92 kidnapped victims evade capture by Boko Haram in separate operations.
30 Civilians, 10 Terrorists Killed in Northeast
The week opened on a grim note in Northeast Nigeria.
On Monday afternoon (May 18), suspected fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province stormed Anadawa community in Mafa County of Borno State, killing at least 30 fishermen and loggers in a brazen daytime attack. At least 20 of the murdered fishermen were Christians, according to TruthNigeria reporter Suleman Ayuba. Although the majority of the population in Borno State is Muslim, Christian residents have suffered disproportionate losses to attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP). Government spokesmen routinely deny there is disproportionate murder of Christians.
The assailants reportedly arrived around 3:30 p.m. local time, catching locals off guard as they worked.
Many victims were hacked to death with machetes, while others were shot as they tried to flee. Several people were also taken away by the attackers, though the exact number remains unclear.
Days later, the violence shifted from civilians to the military.
On Friday (May 22), troops on patrol along the Maiduguri–Monguno Road ran into an ambush by fighters linked to Boko Haram. What followed was a fierce gun battle.
Military sources said the soldiers responded with heavier firepower, killing 10 insurgents. But the clash came at a cost: four soldiers were critically wounded and evacuated for treatment.
Seven Killed, 15 Kidnapped in Middle Belt
Gunmen, numbering about 15 and armed with AK-47 rifles, killed at least three people in coordinated attacks across Benue State on Friday evening (May 22).
The first attack was around 5:00 p.m. in Ukpamaju village, Otukpo County, where two farmers were shot dead on their farmland.
Residents barely had time to process the attack before another alert came in.
By about 10:00 p.m., the same group of armed men had moved to the Ojano region of the Otukpo–Enugu highway in Ohimini County, blocking the road and targeting travelers.
Security operatives, alongside troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, engaged the attackers in a gunfight after they opened fire on a commercial bus and other vehicles. Several passengers were injured. One later died in hospital.
Elsewhere that same night, a 25-year-old man was killed in Ojantele community in Apa County—an incident locals believe is connected to the same wave of attacks.
On Saturday night (May 23), gunmen stormed a prayer ground in Ikiran village in Ekiti County, Kwara State, killing three Christians and abducting 15 others.
The victims were attending a night vigil when the attackers struck at about 8:30 p.m. local time, opening fire and causing panic as worshippers fled in different directions.
Confirming the incident on Sunday, spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the attackers “invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically,” adding that rescue operations were ongoing.
Two Killed, Two Abducted in Northwest
Armed bandits carried out multiple attacks in Zamfara State during the week.
On Monday morning (May 18), armed bandits blocked Tashar Lawali Road in Talata Mafara, opening fire on motorists. A driver, Lawali Hakimi, was killed instantly.
The attackers abducted two local government officials: Jamilu Sani, a director of planning, and Muslimu Habibu, a councillor. Another official, Samaila Ladan, was injured but rescued by security operatives.
The attacks did not end there.
On Wednesday evening (May 20), suspected terrorists opened fire on a vehicle along the Mayanchi–Anka road, killing one passenger and injuring two others.
The road has been the site of repeated ambushes by terror groups operating from forest enclaves.
Two Abducted in Southwest
Even as northern states battled repeated attacks, the south was not spared.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, gunmen struck the staff quarters of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) on Tuesday night (May 19), abducting two employees.
The incident has sent ripples of fear through the institution. Colleagues, according to reports, have begun raising funds to meet ransom demands, though the amount has not been disclosed.
The attack comes at a sensitive time for the state, still reeling from an earlier mass kidnapping involving school children and teachers, as well as the reported killing of a captive victim.
Military Rescue 92 Kidnap Victims
Troops under Operation Hadin Kai claimed to have rescued 92 kidnapped victims on Saturday (May 23) along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu County, Borno.
Military officials said the victims—52 men, 33 women, and 7 children—were found in eight vehicles abandoned by fleeing insurgents. Some sources reported to TruthNigeria that the recovery of hostages was a thwarted kidnap attempt.
The retreating fighters planted improvised explosive devices along the route in a last-ditch attempt to slow pursuit; but troops safely detonated the devices.
Ezinwanne Onwuka is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
