By Ezinwanne Onwuka
360 hostages walked out of a Boko Haram enclave in Borno last week after a major military operation, yet across Nigeria, attacks still left more than 30 dead and dozens kidnapped.
Eight Killed as Armed Groups Target Communities, Travelers in North-Central
In the early hours of Monday (June 1), suspected terrorists invaded Ayegunle Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu County in Kogi State at about 3:30 a.m. local time, killing two persons, injuring five others, and abducting no fewer than 28 others.
Among those taken were local residents and passengers traveling in a commercial bus intercepted along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road, about 21 miles southwest of Kabba. The route is a critical link connecting Kogi to Ekiti, Kwara, and Ondo states.
Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade in Kabba mobilized following a distress call, but the attackers had fled before their arrival. Soldiers later launched pursuit operations along suspected escape routes, leading to the rescue of 23 abducted passengers who had been abandoned under pressure from advancing troops.
Military sources said efforts were ongoing to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of remaining victims.
Separately, on Friday (June 5) at about 9:30 p.m., terrorists attacked a birthday gathering in Ikoyi community in Ijumu County, killing one person and injuring another before fleeing ahead of arriving security personnel.
Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West, described kidnapping in the state as “a daily occurrence,” citing the abduction of 28 residents in Ayedun Bunu during the same early Monday attacks.
Further east in Benue State, violence linked to armed militia groups continued to claim lives in rural communities.
On Tuesday (June 2), Christian farmers were ambushed and killed along the Ikobi-Odugbo road in Apa County while working on their land. The assailants killed three farmers while a woman sustained serious injuries in the attack. In a separate incident, two hunters were killed in Ukum County during a hunting expedition.
In neighboring Nasarawa State, communities in Odeni Precinct of the Udege Development Area have cried out that armed groups have occupied their ancestral lands for more than two months.
Residents trace the occupation to coordinated attacks between April 2 and April 3, 2026, when more than 200 heavily armed militants swept through multiple villages, killing residents and burning homes.
Police confirmed at least 11 deaths and the destruction of more than 50 houses, though community leaders say the toll exceeded 80.
Thousands remain displaced, unable to return to their farms, with locals warning of deepening food insecurity as the planting season progresses without access to land.
Students Abducted in Fresh Wave of Attacks Across Northwest
In Zamfara State, a region long plagued by banditry, attacks were recorded.
At about 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday (June 3), suspected bandits stormed an off-campus student residence, abducting seven students from Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda. One victim later escaped, leaving six—three male and three female students—still in captivity. Local officials confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing.
That same day, at least nine farmers were killed in Gidan Danjumma community in Birnin Magaji County.
According to accounts from residents and community sources cited by media reports, the victims were attacked by bandits while working on their farms despite earlier threats from armed groups against farming activities in the area.
Nine farmers were gunned down instantly, while many others ran into forests for the safety of their lives. Witnesses said the attackers pursued fleeing farmers on motorcycles, firing indiscriminately.
On Friday (June 5), additional farming communities—Lugga, Gwabro, and Gwammanan—came under attack, resulting in multiple casualties, though the exact toll remains unclear.
In Kebbi State, gunmen carried out a late-night raid on Unguwan Dutse in Wasagu District same Friday at approximately 12:40 a.m., abducting six residents, including women and children.
Security forces mobilized after a distress call but arrived after the attackers had fled into nearby forest areas.
Meanwhile, in Katsina State, a separate kidnapping case highlights evolving tactics among armed groups.
Bandits are demanding a prisoner exchange—not cash ransom—for the release of a retired senior military officer and his wife who were abducted on Saturday (May 30), signaling a shift in negotiation strategies.
However, state authorities have expressed strong optimism that they will soon regain their freedom following intensified efforts by security agencies and the state government.
Borno Insurgent Attack, Bauchi Clash Leave 15 Dead in Northeast
In Borno State, the epicenter of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency, militants attacked a military base in Mandaragirau at about 3:00 a.m. on Friday (June 5) during heavy rainfall.
In a statement, military spokesman Lt. Col. Haruna Sani said the terrorists attempted to breach sections of the Forward Operating Base under 25 Brigade of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI.
Troops repelled the assault and maintained control of the base, inflicting casualties on the attackers, the military said. However, five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed in the fighting.
“Troops remain firmly in control of the FOB and continue to dominate the general area,” Sani said.
In Bauchi State, a farmer–herder clash on Thursday (May 4) in Lanzai and Dosho communities left seven people dead and six others injured.
The violence began when Fulani herders attacked farmers applying fertilizer on their fields. The incident triggered a reprisal from Lanzai youths, who mobilized and stormed a Fulani settlement in Dosho. During the retaliation, about 50 huts were burned and several household items destroyed.
Christian Body Declares Mourning Period Over Rising Attacks in Nigeria
Amid the escalating violence, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) announced a nationwide mourning period from Friday (June 12) to Sunday (June 14), culminating in a “Black Sunday” to honor victims of ongoing attacks.
CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh said communities are facing sustained assaults, with residents kidnapped from homes and workplaces, travelers abducted on highways, and farmers displaced from their farmlands by criminal and terrorist groups.
He also cited increasing attacks on churches, schools, and other vulnerable communities, while criticizing the inability of existing security arrangements to adequately protect citizens.
Nigerian Troops Rescue 360 Hostages in Mandara Mountains Operation
The highlight of military gains during the week was the rescue of 360 abductees from a heavily fortified Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State.
The victims—mostly women and children abducted from communities around the Ngoshe axis—were freed during a coordinated, intelligence-led operation conducted by Special Forces and troops under Sector One.
Military authorities said the raid followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance, and detailed operational planning.
However, local officials and families in Ngoshe told TruthNigeria that most if not all of the rescued hostages were not their missing family members. In an interview with TruthNigeria, Professor Audu Idriss of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, a native of Ngoshe and son of the former Village Head of Ngoshe, said many of those released were not from the community.
Ezinwanne Onwuka is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
