Fresh violence, mass displacement test govt’s grip on security

• Residents flee Kwara community as insecurity worsens, 27 killed in Kogi
• NBA Kebbi orders lawyers to avoid kidnapping hotspots, declares court boycott
• Youth coalition, NBA demand action over worsening insecurity in Niger North
• ADC accuses Tinubu of ignoring insecurity, prioritising politics
• Presidency dismisses ‘Christian persecution’ claims as ignorant, patronising
• Northern Christian leaders seek Tinubu’s intervention on displaced persons
• Operation Fasan Yamma intensifies anti-banditry operations in North-West

As kidnappings, killings, and displacement sweep across multiple states, Nigerians may have begun losing faith in the Federal Government’s ability to protect them.

Consequently, lawyers, youth groups, and opposition parties have demanded urgent intervention, warning that without decisive action, insecurity could further erode public trust and destabilise the nation.

The depth of the crisis is evident in some communities now being emptied by fear, as violent attacks turn once-safe towns into zones of flight and uncertainty.

A mass exodus of residents from the Oro-Ago community in Irepodun Local Council, Kwara State, has begun amid growing insecurity in the Kwara South Senatorial District.

From Saturday morning till evening, large numbers of people were seen leaving the community following a surge in kidnappings and killings in the area.

Security sources said both indigenes and Fulani/Bororo residents were relocating to safer destinations in various vehicles. Market women and traders were also part of the mass movement.

The development follows a deadly incident on September 25, 2025, when armed bandits invaded the community and killed Chief David Oladepo Aina, Baale of Oyatedo and owner of Kebe Hotel. The incident occurred shortly after he returned from a trip to Omu-Aran. He was shot dead after resisting an attempt to kidnap him at the front of his hotel.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, for comments on the situation were unsuccessful.
The Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Titiloye, cautioned politicians against politicising the worsening security situation in parts of Kwara.

He said the wave of insecurity in the Southern and Northern Senatorial Districts of the state required sober reflection and collective action. Stakeholders, he added, must work with the government to de-escalate the crisis and address it decisively.

In a statement issued in Oro, the monarch expressed concern that some individuals were seeking to capitalise on the situation for their own political gain.

According to Oba Titiloye, the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq “has shown commitment to rout out the criminals maiming, kidnapping for ransom and spilling innocent blood” by supporting security agencies working to end the menace.

He added that information available to him confirmed that the state government was not “folding its arms” in the face of rising violence. He called for renewed commitment and coordinated efforts to stamp out non-state armed groups terrorising communities.

In a related development, about 27 people were killed on Saturday when heavily armed bandits attacked several communities in Yagba West Local Council of Kogi State.

A military source said the assailants arrived “heavily armed” with sophisticated weapons. Yagba West, the home local government of Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi-West and chairs the Senate Committee on Services, has come under repeated attacks in recent weeks.

On Friday, bandits struck early in the morning in Bareke, Egbe, while a similar attack in Ejiba on Thursday targeted a commercial bus, with all passengers kidnapped.

Earlier on October 1, gunmen stormed Bethel Farm in Ejiba, abducting three people. The growing wave of violence has heightened fears among residents over the safety of their lives and property.

NBA Kebbi orders lawyers to avoid kidnapping hotspots, declares court boycott
Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kebbi Branch, has directed its members to avoid travelling to nine local councils in the state identified as kidnapping hotspots.

Branch chairman, Aminu Hassan, issued the directive in a statement released in Birnin Kebbi yesterday. He listed the affected areas as Bagudo, Suru, Kamba in Dandi, Bunza, Kangiwa in Arewa, Dirin Daji in Sakaba, Ribah, Kanya and Augie local councils.

Hassan said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the association held on Saturday to discuss the abduction of one of its members, Mr Isyaku Muhammad-Danjuma, who was kidnapped on Wednesday along the Ibeto-Birnin Kebbi road in Magama Local Council of Niger State.

The association condemned the abduction and expressed concern over the rising wave of insecurity across the country. It was resolved that all members would boycott court proceedings from October 7 to October 10 in protest against the kidnapping and to draw attention to the deteriorating security situation.

“Upon the expiration of the boycott period, members are also urged to suspend handling of terrorism-related cases, including those involving kidnapping, abduction, armed robbery or unlawful possession of firearms, until further notice,” Hassan said.

He added that the association would engage with the relevant authorities to ensure the safe release of the abducted lawyer and called on government and security agencies to take urgent steps to restore peace and public confidence.

Hassan also said the branch would work with the judiciary to provide alternative venues for court cases, thereby minimising travel to unsafe locations. He commended members of the Bar, the judiciary, the media and other Nigerians for their solidarity, urging them to remain united in the pursuit of justice and peace.

Earlier, the association’s national president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, had demanded Danjuma’s immediate release. Osigwe described the incident as “a sad reminder of the worsening state of insecurity across our nation, where no citizen, whether a lawyer, student, trader, or farmer, is safe on our highways, in their homes, or in their places of work.”

“Mr Danjuma is not just a lawyer; he is a husband, a father, a son, and a citizen whose rights to life, liberty, and dignity are guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). His abduction is a gross violation of these rights, an affront to the rule of law, and yet another tragic testimony to the unchecked reign of criminality and violence in our society,” he said.

Youth coalition, NBA demand urgent action over worsening insecurity in Niger North
Relatedly, the Coalition of Niger North Youth Forum (CNNYF) joined forces with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Niger State Branch, to demand immediate action from both the Federal and Niger State Governments to tackle the escalating security crisis in the Niger North Senatorial District.

At an emergency meeting convened to discuss the worsening situation, the forum expressed deep concern over repeated attacks on communities across the eight local government areas.

In a statement, National Director of Contacts and Mobilisation, Bello Junaidu-Ahmed, lamented that “residents of Niger North have faced relentless attacks by armed bandits and criminal elements, leading to the burning of homes, theft of thousands of cattle, and the abduction of school children.

“Despite our repeated efforts, including official letters, press briefings, and participation in security summits, the government has taken no tangible action to alleviate the suffering of the people.” The coalition noted that despite ongoing violence and numerous appeals for intervention, there has been little meaningful response from the authorities.

The statement highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the crisis, pointing out that “thousands of school children have been forced out of classrooms, illiteracy rates among youths have skyrocketed, and countless businesses have collapsed. Many families have been displaced, further compounding the crisis.”

In response, CNNYF issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal and Niger State Governments to implement effective security measures to restore peace and protect communities in the region.

“If no action is taken within this period, we will be compelled to take legal action against the governments for failing to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Ahmed warned.

ADC accuses Tinubu of ignoring insecurity, prioritising politics
Reacting, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritising politics over the worsening security crisis in the country, describing the situation as unacceptable.

In a statement yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed as “political rhetoric” the President’s remarks at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos that his mission is to unite Nigerians, saying his actions since taking office show he does not understand what it takes to achieve national unity.

The ADC stated that Nigeria was under attack and provided suggestions on how the government could address insecurity.

“The African Democratic Congress is deeply disturbed by the brazen insensitivity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the growing insecurity in the country,” the statement read.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in whom the constitutional authority to secure the lives and property of citizens is vested, the President’s continued preference for attending social and political events in the midst of alarming deterioration of internal security is both unacceptable and irresponsible.

“Just today, the newspapers are reporting that nine local government areas in Kwara State, a state that had until this APC-led administration enjoyed a reputation for peace and stability, reportedly came under siege by armed bandits. In a development that underscores the extent of state fragility, residents are now being forced to provide food items, drinks, money, and other services as ransom payments. This is a complete failure of governance. Yet, the presidency has neither acknowledged the situation nor outlined any plan of action to support the affected communities or hold those responsible to account.”

The party noted that a similar attack was reported in Kogi State, where travellers were killed and several others, including women and children, were abducted. It added that more than 180 schools in northern states had been shut due to insecurity.

“Unfortunately, these reports form part of a broader and bloodier pattern. From Plateau to Zamfara, Benue to Niger, Kaduna to Kwara, incidents of mass abductions, violent attacks, and forced displacement continue to rise,” it stated.

The ADC criticised the federal government for offering “vague assurances” that progress is being made in the fight against insecurity, calling the claim “insensitive” and contradicted daily “in blood and body counts of innocent victims who, it now appears, the gunmen kill for sport.”

“While rural communities are being emptied and schools are being shut down, the President continues to attend funerals and ceremonies involving political associates. This sends the unfortunate message that the President cares more about political appearances than the lives of Nigerian citizens,” the party said.

It recalled that hundreds were killed in Plateau State earlier in the year in attacks that lasted several months, yet the President “never thought it necessary” to visit.

“President Tinubu’s claim of progress in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria is indeed a tragic denial of the reality of most Nigerians who have had to bury loved ones in recent days and on a daily basis. This denial by the President, no doubt, emanates either from cruel indifference or tragic oversimplification of a very complex problem. This is why the President does not say anything new or promise anything new on how he plans to lift this siege on Nigeria,” the ADC said.

Presidency dismisses ‘Christian persecution’ claims as ignorant, patronising
This came as the Presidency dismissed renewed allegations of “Christian persecution” in Nigeria by some Western figures, describing them as misinformed, patronising, and based on “ignorance dressed as concern.”

The reaction followed recent comments by United States Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher, who cited alleged religious persecution to support calls for foreign intervention in Nigeria.

In a statement titled “On Faith, Fiction and the Facts: Nigeria Will Not Be Lectured,” Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and Strategy, O’tega Ogra, said Nigeria’s story “cannot be dictated or rewritten from abroad.”

“There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is terrorism, the same plague that tore through Iraq, Syria and Libya, and now creeps through the very West that once exported it. Yet Nigeria confronts it daily, in a few regions, without foreign sympathy or selective outrage,” Ogra stated.

He accused Cruz of hypocrisy, noting that even U.S. officials have admitted that certain interventions inadvertently strengthened terror groups like Boko Haram.

“When a United States senator whose own colleagues have admitted that Washington’s interventions helped arm groups like Boko Haram now accuses Nigeria of religious persecution, the irony borders on self-parody. You cannot set a region on fire and then accuse the victims of arson,” he said.

Ogra stressed that Nigeria’s security challenge is a fight against terror, not a conflict between faiths, and cautioned against external attempts to misrepresent the situation.

“Nigeria will not be lectured by those who confuse our struggle for security with a struggle of faith. Our constitution forbids any state religion, and for centuries, Muslims and Christians have coexisted side by side,” he said.

He criticised Cruz for attempting to legislate on Nigeria’s internal affairs from Washington. “Nigeria does not seek validation, only accuracy. Nigeria does not legislate for Texas, and Texas will not legislate for Nigeria,” he added.

Ogra also criticised Maher for trivialising Nigeria’s complex realities. “Faith in Nigeria is not a punchline. It feeds the hungry, shelters the displaced, and gives hope to the weary. Mocking belief may earn applause abroad; here it earns silence, the kind that comes from people too busy rebuilding to laugh,” he said.

He warned that portraying Nigeria’s security problems as religious persecution advances a “coordinated narrative” aimed at dividing the country, distorting its image, and undermining its resilience as Africa’s most populous democracy.

“Nigeria is not a victim to be pitied. It is a nation to be respected. The cross, the crescent and the ancestral spirit stand here, not in conflict but in covenant, and this is our simple truth. We will defend it calmly, firmly and without apology,” Ogra said. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s sovereignty and resilience, quoting President Bola Tinubu’s words: “Nigeria may bend, but we do not break.”

Northern Christian leaders seek Tinubu’s intervention on displaced persons
Meanwhile, Christian leaders in Northern Nigeria have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the resettlement of thousands of displaced persons in Benue, Plateau and Borno states, many of whom have remained in camps within and outside the country for years.

The appeal was made in Jos, Plateau State, during a meeting with the President on the sidelines of the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwata, mother of Prof Nentawe Yilwata, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on behalf of the clerics, Rev. Dr Amos M. Mohzo, President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and Chairman of the Heads of Denominational Leaders on the Plateau, CAN, lamented that more than 200,000 people from Gwoza, Borno State, remain in refugee camps in Cameroon and Chad.

“We humbly appeal to you, Mr President, to help bring them back home. In the same vein, we are calling for a lifeline for displaced communities in Plateau and Benue States. Rebuilding their livelihoods and housing will reposition them for meaningful life and productivity,” he said.

Mohzo commended the President’s efforts to strengthen national security and his support for the establishment of a state police force. He stressed that resettling displaced families is critical to peace and stability in the North.

He also praised the President for promoting inclusivity in governance through key appointments of Northern Christians, including Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff, and Prof. Nentawe Yilwata as APC National Chairman. Mohzo urged Tinubu to expand the inclusion of Christians in government.

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, reiterated the appeal, urging the President to prioritise resettlement and reconstruction as part of efforts to restore the dignity of displaced families.

“Our people cannot continue to live in camps when their ancestral homes have been taken over. We are appealing to Mr President to act with urgency so that these Nigerians can return home and live meaningful lives again,” he said.

Operation Fasan Yamma intensifies anti-banditry operations in North-West
Operation Fasan Yamma has announced that its troops have intensified anti-banditry operations across Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara states in the Northwest.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division, Major General Ibikunle Ajose, disclosed this during the graduation ceremony of the Exercise Shining Star and Sniper Training Cadre course.

Ajose, who also serves as Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force, North-West Operations, said 147 soldiers completed an eight-week intensive training programme at the Division’s training school.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lt. Colonel Olaniyi Osoba.

In his address, Ajose commended the graduating soldiers for their dedication and performance, saying he was impressed with the skills they had acquired. He emphasised that the Division’s culture was to “train hard to fight easy,” highlighting the importance of applying their training in real-life operations. He reminded the soldiers that the Division “does not accommodate failure” and that their mission was to neutralise threats effectively.

Ajose urged them to return to their respective units and share new combat techniques with their colleagues. He also cautioned against drug abuse, substance misuse, and unprofessional conduct, warning that such behaviours undermine operational readiness. While acknowledging that fear is normal, he stressed that it must be overcome without resorting to hard drugs.

Earlier, the Acting Division Training Officer, Lieutenant Colonel David Ezebuche, explained the demanding nature of the training, noting that participants were drawn from formations within the 8 Division Area of Responsibility, including 1 Brigade (Zamfara), 17 Brigade (Katsina), and 8 Division Garrison (Sokoto).

(Guardian)