Armed groups have stepped up attacks across parts of northern Nigeria following United States air strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State.
Findings indicate that no fewer than 47 people were killed and 35 others kidnapped between December 25, 2025, and January 2, 2026.
The attacks were recorded in communities across Adamawa, Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Yobe and Kano states, with bandits, ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters blamed for the violence.
President Donald Trump announced last Christmas, via a post on his Truth Social platform, that US forces had carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in north-western Nigeria, warning that further attacks would follow if the militants continued killing Christians.
The Defence Headquarters later confirmed that intelligence gathered ahead of the operation established the presence of terrorists in the targeted area, adding that a battle damage assessment was still ongoing.
Renewed attacks
Despite the air strikes, monitoring of security incidents between December 25 and January 2 shows a surge in violence, with many communities coming under renewed assault.
A review of media reports shows that at least 82 people were either killed or abducted during the period. This figure includes more than 35 abducted and 47 killed, while over 12 others sustained injuries. The actual number of abductees may be higher, as some incidents did not disclose exact figures.
Several people were abducted when suspected bandits attacked Omi-Ara community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State. In the same council, gunmen also raided Odo-Ere community on Sunday night, abducting at least four residents.
On December 30, women and children travelling from Wanke to Gusau were kidnapped but later rescued by security operatives. Three days earlier, suspected bandits invaded Adanla community in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, abducting more than eight people.
On December 29, at least eight people were killed during coordinated attacks on Kaiwa, Gelawu and Gebbe villages in Shanga LGA of Kebbi State.
In Zamfara State, 16 women were abducted, two people killed and several others injured when Sabon-Layi village in the Wanke district of Gusau LGA was attacked. At least seven farmers were also reported killed in Bum community, Jos South LGA of Plateau State.
The traditional ruler of Aafin community, Oba S. Y. Olaonipekun, alongside one of his sons who is a National Youth Service Corps member, was abducted in the Ile-Ire district of Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State.
Gunmen further attacked Kunza community in Ashigye village, Lafia LGA of Nasarawa State, killing three people and injuring nine others on December 31. On December 26, bandits kidnapped five travellers along the Ogbe-Egbe Road and injured another person.
ISWAP also claimed responsibility for firing mortars at a Nigerian military camp in Goniri, Yobe State, though the extent of damage was not disclosed. A security analyst, Brant Phillips, later said ISWAP raided a village, killing 11 “hostile” Christians, destroying a church and more than 100 houses, and seizing properties.
This marks the first time ISWAP has described a group of Christians as “hostile”, following similar wording recently used by ISCAP.
Former United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a post on X, urged Trump to authorise follow-up strikes to intensify pressure on the terrorists.
“Nigeria’s Christians deserve the chance to worship our Lord without fear,” Pompeo wrote. “If President Trump follows up last week’s strikes against ISIS with sustained pressure, we will see meaningful progress for religious freedom in Nigeria and beyond.”
Boko Haram kills 14 in Adamawa
The Chairman of Hong LGA in Adamawa State, Usman Inuwa, confirmed that Boko Haram killed 14 people in two villages within the area.
Inuwa said the insurgents attacked Mubang and Zar villages at night, killing 14 people, injuring two others and burning several houses along with food supplies.
“Boko Haram invaded Mubang and Zar villages around 9pm. They killed 14 people, shot two others and set dozens of houses on fire,” he said, noting that the communities lie close to the Sambisa Forest, with vast ungoverned spaces enabling the attackers.
He added that a combined team of military personnel and vigilantes had previously secured the area and repelled similar attacks.
Bandits also attacked Yankwada, Babanduhu and surrounding villages in Shanono LGA of Kano State on Thursday night, killing one person and stealing cattle. The attackers reportedly arrived on about 50 motorcycles and engaged troops in a prolonged gun battle until early Friday morning.
The Chairman of the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, Alhaji Yahya Bagobiri, said the assault was a revenge attack after nine bandits were killed by security forces the previous week. He called on the Federal Government to deploy more personnel and equipment to support troops on the ground.
An army spokesperson later confirmed the incident but said no one was killed and no cattle were rustled.
Terrorists move to Niger, Kaduna
A community leader has suggested that terrorists displaced by the US air strikes in Sokoto may be attempting to infiltrate neighbouring states through multiple routes.
According to the source, some fleeing fighters are moving into Niger and Kaduna states through parts of Katsina and the Zamfara border, while others are transiting from Kebbi towards Kwara and parts of the South-West.
He said the development has heightened tension in rural areas, prompting local armed groups to tighten internal controls and expel unfamiliar individuals.
“Some bandits recently met and warned that anyone breaching existing peace agreements would have their weapons and motorcycles seized,” he said, adding that aerial surveillance had also been intensified across Birnin-Gwari, Niger State and border areas with Kebbi.
He stressed that no Boko Haram or ISWAP attacks had been recorded in Kaduna since the air strikes, describing current efforts as preventive.
Meanwhile, suspected bandits on Wednesday evening attacked Adanla community, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun LGA, abducting eight residents and injuring others. The incident sparked panic, forcing many residents to flee to neighbouring towns and farmlands.
No attack in Sokoto
Findings also show that no attacks have been reported in Sokoto State since the US air strikes.
Residents say the frequency of assaults has reduced compared to previous periods. A local resident of Rabbah, Alhaji Abdullah Umara, confirmed that the community has not experienced any recent attack.
“We have not witnessed any attack here for some time now. I believe it is connected to the recent air strikes on criminal hideouts,” he said, adding that some bandits were killed while others fled.
“Our prayer is that this peace will continue,” he added.
