34 Deaths, Over 47 Abductions: Nigeria's Weekly Security Report -Dec 11 - 17, 2023
Sunny Dada
Journalist/Peacebuilding/Governance and Electoral Processes/Development Professional/Data Analyst/Rotary Peace Fellow
Reeling from the bombing of 120 innocent civilians by the Nigerian Army in Kaduna State in early December, the call for the review of the national security strategy took centre stage even as Sub-regional governors from nineteen northern states on Friday, December 15, 2023, demanded the creation of a command and control centre in the region to respond to the complex insecurity challenges in the region.
In mid-April 2023, Nigeria unveiled a five-year strategic plan as part of efforts to strengthen its national security architecture. However, nine months after its launch, the country has witnessed some of the worst banditry and terrorist attacks in a decade.
The calls for the review of the strategic plan also came on the heels of a ruling by Nigeria’s apex court which directed the retrial of Biafran separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by a lower court of first instance. Nnamdi Kanu, who has been at the heart of separatist agitations, was brought back to Nigeria in an extraordinary rendition after he was abducted in Kenya by Nigerian authorities. The ruling which blocked his release, further exacerbated tension in the south-east where separatists’ agitations have been rife.
The week under review however recorded 34 deaths and over 47 abductions. The incidents happened in Cross River, Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, and Rivers States. Other states affected include Taraba, Ekiti and Sokoto States. The period also witnessed the abduction of two South Korean expatriates in Rivers State.
The unabated insecurity has also led to food insecurity as farmers and fishermen come under increasing attack. According to the office of the Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria’s President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (SSAP), about 88.5 million Nigerians currently face food insecurity; with a projected rise by six million in December 2023.
The summary of the various incidents that sum up the week are reported below.
At least four people were killed while dozens of others were abducted in separate terrorist attacks in Katsina and Zamfara States on Saturday.
Residents of?Katsina?and Zamfara States are facing renewed terrorist onslaught in recent weeks.
In the Zamfara attack, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the terrorists opened fire on motorists around Dogon Karfe on the Gusau – Talata Mafara highway around 7:00 p.m.
A resident of Maru town near where the attack occurred, Bello Saleh, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone said most of the passengers were abducted while several others were left with various degrees of injuries.
The police command said its operatives are carrying out a rescue mission in the area.
The Katsina State Police Command has said suspected bandits killed four farmers and abducted eight others from Nahuta village in the Batsari Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
The state police spokesman, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the attack on Sunday in Katsina.
He said the farmers were harvesting their crops when the assailants struck.
A squad of the Nigerian Navy on routine patrol, along Calabar-Oron waterways, has rescued Paramount Ruler of Akpabuyo Local Council, Cross River State, Etinyin Maurice Ekpenyong, after a gun duel.
Ten suspected kidnappers were reportedly killed during the operation. Ekpenyong was abducted at his residence by gunmen in the wee hours of Monday, December 11.
A source revealed that the kidnappers were intercepted by the patrol team, last night, as they attempted to ferry the royal father to Oron, in Akwa Ibom State, through the Atlantic Ocean, preparatory to commencing negotiations for ransom.
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have reportedly killed Ali Hakimi, the District Head of Sarkin Kudu town in Ibbi Local Government Area of Taraba State.
It was learnt that the deceased who was the brother of the chief of Sarkin Kudu chiefdom was killed after an attack on his palace at about 12.30 am, on Friday.
A resident of the town, who spoke with Daily Trust, said the bandits had launched several attacks across the chiefdom and abducted many people recently.
Troops of the Joint Task Force, North West Operation Hadarin Daji, have killed three terrorists in Sokoto State.
In a statement via its verified X, formerly Twitter handle, the?Nigerian army?stated the offensive clearance operation, which took place Thursday at Sokoto’s Bauni village and forest, “led to a gun duel that lasted for several hours.”
The Army said the operation was a continuation of the onslaught against terrorists to ensure hitch-free Yuletide festivities through a series of coordinated clearance and offensive operations in its areas of responsibility.
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3 feared killed in Ekiti robbery attack Dec 13, 2023
Tragedy struck in Ikere Ekiti on Wednesday evening as three men were feared killed during a robbery attack on two new-generation banks located in the ancient community.
Vanguard gathered that the armed robbers struck at about 4.30 pm, and shot sporadically into the air, making the panic-stricken people of the?community?scamper for safety.
Vanguard learnt that before the robbers hit the banks, they first attacked the Ikere command of the Amotekun Corps along Ise Road and reportedly shot some operatives.
Gunmen, on Tuesday morning, ambushed a convoy of Daewood workers on the Ahoada-Abua road, along the East-West Road in Rivers State, killing four soldiers and two drivers.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, Major General Jamal Abdulssalam confirmed the incident which he said happened along the East/ West Road on Tuesday.
Bandits Kill Two, Abduct Scores Of Locals In Zurmi LGA? Dec 12, 2023
Two persons were said to have been killed while an unspecified number of persons were abducted by armed bandits in Zamfara.
Patrol vehicles belonging to Security agencies, Houses, Grain Sailors and other valuable properties were also destroyed by the bandits while others were carted away
The incident occurred when the armed men invaded some communities in Zurmi local government area of the state.
Police authorities in Zamfara through through the police public relations officer, Yazid Abubakar confirmed the attack, but say normalcy has been restored to all affected areas.
Some suspected gunmen said to be dressed in military uniform allegedly kidnapped seven persons along the Fidiwo area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday just as one person was shot dead while escaping the attack.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity told?PUNCH Metro?that the vehicle conveying the victims was accosted by the gun-wielding armed men who fired sporadically abducted seven passengers of the vehicle and escaped with the kidnapped victims into the bush along the expressway.
Punch correspondent gathered further that a female passenger in another vehicle who saw the attack and attempted to flee was shot by the armed men leaving her in a critical condition while another unidentified woman was shot dead by the armed men
The? Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the attack to our correspondent late Tuesday, stressing that the police had begun a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.
Bandits Abduct 30 Villagers In Kaduna Community Dec 11, 2023
Bandits have abducted 30 villagers in Unguwar Liman, Gwada community in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Residents said the victims, including housewives and kids below the age of 2, were taken to an unknown destination.
Malam Jafar Anaba, a resident and community leader, informed Daily Trust on Monday night that his biological brother and other relatives were among those abducted.
Nigerian soldiers rescued nine kidnapped victims while two others died before a rescue operation, an official announced on Monday.
The spokesperson of the 1 Division of the?Nigerian Army, Musa Yahaya, a lieutenant colonel, said the soldiers who were on routine patrol in the Kanzaure area were tipped off about the kidnap of 11 civilians at Anguwan Maharba and Dandami villages.
The soldiers were deployed to Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna.
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