126 Deaths, 150 Abductions: Nigeria's Weekly Security Report - Nov 20 - 26, 2023
Sunny Dada
Journalist/Peacebuilding/Governance and Electoral Processes/Development Professional/Data Analyst/Rotary Peace Fellow
Nigeria recorded 126 insecurity-related deaths between November 20 and 26, 2023. More than 80% of reported deaths were attributed to sustained military bombardment of ISWAP terrorists operating on the fringes of North-Eastern Borno State by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF). The period also witnessed the slaughtering of 20 villagers by Killer-Herders in another North-Eastern Taraba State. Apart from the 100 terrorists killed by NAF, the period under review witnessed a 28.125% decrease in recorded deaths compared to the previous week. ?
The week however witnessed a disturbing spike in the number of recorded abductions. All recorded abductions occurred in North-Western Zamfara State where Bandits drove on motorbikes and ransacked villages unchallenged.
The deaths occurred in Adamawa, Borno, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers States while the abductions took place in Zamfara state. ?Apart from Adamawa where the two reported deaths during a bitter inter-agency clash between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force, recorded deaths in Ogun, Lagos, and Rivers are attributed to cultism.
Despite the strings of successes recorded by the NAF in the week, Nigeria remains on high-security alert as information emerged within the week that some arrested Boko Haram Terrorists planned to launch attacks from the various prisons. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who revealed this, also alleged that some corrupt prison officials are complicit in the plot. He also admitted that a total of 73 unmanned forests had been taken over by bandits. Non-state actors operate from ungoverned spaces and launch successful multiple attacks against vulnerable populations.
Below is a summary of the incidents captured in their original sources.
Air Strikes Kill Over 100 Terrorists in Borno State Nov 25, 2023
Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday struck terrorist enclaves in Nigeria’s northeast, killing 100 terrorists.
A war update issued by the NAF said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, carried out air strikes on an isolated location consisting of three structures in the midst of several trees in Borno State.
It said the air interdiction was one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on November 24, 2023.
The update signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said “from the footage, it was evident that the terrorists were massing up at the location for either a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on our own troops.
Gunmen kill Imo monarch, as CP deploys special squad Nov 25, 2023
Owerri- Unknown gunmen last Saturday night kidnapped and murdered a traditional ruler, Eze Joe-Benz Ochulor, Olu 1 of Otulu Amumara, in Ezinihitte Mbaise Council Area of Imo state.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, confirmed this incident said: “The information is true.”
20 feared killed in Taraba bandit attack Nov 24, 2023
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Friday evening attacked and killed 20 people in the Yangtu Development Area and Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State, local sources told Punch Newspaper on telephone.
A youth leader and public affairs analyst, Mr. Ure Caleb, told Punch that more than 20 people were killed in separate attacks on communities in Ussa local government and Yangtu Special Development Area.
Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, Mr.? Peter Shamwun, told journalists that the gunmen attacked and killed nine people in Rubur Ribasi, Nyicwu, and Ruwah Communities of Yangtu Special Development Area around 6pm on Friday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Usman Abdullahi, said the incident was still under investigation.
领英推荐
At least 150 people, including women and children, were said to have been abducted with one person killed in a coordinated attack by gunmen on four villages in Zamfara State, residents said Saturday.
The state police command spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the attack, which took place late on Friday.
But the residents told Reuters that gunmen on dozens of motorcycles stormed the villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta, and Unguwar Kawo in the Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
A father of three, Seyi Oduyiga, has been allegedly tortured to death by the men of the Ogun State Police Command in their custody over allegations of his involvement in cultism.
DAILY POST gathered that the victim was arrested by the police in a raid on 18th November, around 5:00pm, when, according to his family members, he went to charge his phone.
After Oduyiga was taken to the police headquarters in Eleweran three days after his arrest, his death was later announced to his family after several attempts to see him were rebuffed earlier by the officers.
Responding through a statement, the command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, dismissed claims that the victim was tortured to death.
Shulee was allegedly hacked down at the weekend by members of a rival group in the area and his head cut off, Daily Trust reported on Thursday, November 23.
Residents of the prominent Lagos community alleged that the head of the deceased was sent to the camp of Eiye as a sign of the rivals stamping their authority in the area. A source stated that the slain cult leader was killed around PPL bus stop.
?Commenting on the menace of cultism, Timothy Avele, a security expert, said politicians may be part of the problem
The Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, disclosed on Wednesday evening that the clash involving the police and the military in the state left two personnel dead.
The governor, who briefed journalists after a? security meeting? involving the? Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Armoured Brigade in the state, said both camps suffered the loss of one personnel each.
?
?