Escalating Insecurity: 62 Deaths, Over 34 Abductions - Nigeria's Weekly Conflict and Security Threat Report: September 18 - 24, 2023

Nigeria’s blading insecurity profile was again highlighted with multiple killings and the abduction of twenty four school children in Zamfara State in the week under review. Within the period, ACMGP’s conflict tracker documented a total of fifteen incidents which resulted in 63 deaths and over 25 abductions across twelve states including Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja.

The period also coincided with a damning ‘do not travel’ advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State. The advisory which placed eighteen states on Level 4 risk category, warned US citizens to be cautious and if possible avoid traveling to eighteen states in the country over increased risk of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs in the country.

The states are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe and Imo. Others are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Rivers, Sokoto, ?Yobe, Zamfara States. The State Department in its warning further expressed skepticism on its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the aforementioned states due to deteriorating security conditions.

The week began with an audacious attack on a combined team of security personnel in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in Ehime Mbano council area of Imo state. The attack also led to the gruesome murder of no fewer than eight security operatives, which include soldiers, police officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC). The incident was followed by another attack in Enugu state, killing two police officers on a routine patrol. The period recorded further multiple attacks with casualties in Edo, Niger, Borno, Abia, and Enugu.

However the week also recorded some notable gains for the Nigerian military in Kebbi and Borno states. In Kebbi a combined operation between the Nigerian military and local vigilante groups killed 21 bandits trying to cross into Niger state; while a Nigeria Air Force (NAF) air strike killed 8 terrorists in Borno state.

A comparative analysis between the week under review and week before reveals a 55% increase in the casualty ratio but a 12.58% drop in number of persons abducted. The period ended with 34 abductions and many others unaccounted for in Bauchi, Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, and Sokoto.

The incidents are presented in brief summary below with their sources.

Boko Haram Ambush Motorists In Borno, Kill Four Including A Soldier September 23, 2023

Four persons including a soldier have been killed in an ambush along Gwoza Limankara Road, one hundred and thirty-four kilometres from Maiduguri by Boko Haram terrorists.

They were killed in a convoy comprising civilian JTF and the military escorting passengers along the route.

Several other motorists were also abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents while setting ablaze a military patrol van and five other vehicles.

A local source told Channels Television that the incident took place around 5 p.m. on Saturday but failed network delayed communications till Sunday afternoon.

Gunmen kill 70-year-old Fulani leader in Plateau September 23, 2023

Gunmen have killed a Fulani leader in Plateau State, Adamu Gabdo.

It was learnt that Gabdo, who is the Ardo of Panyam in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state, was shot dead by his assailants in the locality on Saturday night.

The state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Nuru Abdullahi, confirmed the killing to journalists in Jos on Sunday.

The Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Artu, also confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos.

Missing University Student Blessing Karami Found Dead In Abuja September 21, 2023

A university student, Blessing Karami, who was declared, missing on September 11, has been found dead, police authorities said on Thursday.

It was gathered that the 26-year-old Blessing, a student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), was declared missing after leaving her place of work in Garki, Abuja.

In a statement, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said her disappearance was reported to the police authorities last Thursday, September 14.

6 killed, 4 injured as gunmen attack Edo community September 21, 2023

The?death toll from last Thursday night’s invasion of Okhnmwun community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State by gunmen has risen to six, while four others are said to be missing.?

Police gave the identities of the casualties as Endurance Ehioretin, Victor Uwaifo, and D.D, all operatives of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN). Others were Osas Orobor, Sada Haruna and Wada Hilia, the last two being commercial motorcycle riders.

Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, while confirming the killings, said one Charles Aghedo, a prison escapee allegedly led others to attack the community over leadership tussle.

Sixty-five-year-old man killed in Umuahia – Police – September 21, 2023

The police in Abia State have confirmed the murder of a 65-year-old man, Chigozie Chigbu by assailants in his compound on Thursday.

The police spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abia.

Mr Chigbu’s body was found in his compound in Umumba, Nsirimo, Ubakala, Umuahia, following an incident report at Ubakala Police Division in Abia on 21 September, according to the police

Bandits Kill 4, Abduct Scores In Niger September 20, 2023

Bandits have again attacked Pandogari in Rafi local government area of Niger State killing four people and abducting scores.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the bandits attacked the town shooting sporadically to inflict fear before abducting innocent people in the community.

The state Commissioner for humanitarian affairs and disaster management, Ahmed Suleiman Yumu confirmed the incident and said contacts would be made to assess the humanitarian situation and interventions needed.

Gunmen Ambush Enugu Police Team On Patrol, Kill Two Officers, Injure One September 20, 2023

Gunmen ambushed and killed two mobile police officers in Enugu State.

The officers, who were identified by a security source as Danjuma Joseph, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Inspector Abu Elamaje. ‘Operation Restore Peace’ was killed around 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening while on routine patrol along the Udi-Ozalla Road.

Security Agents, Locals Kill 21 Bandits In Kebbi September 20, 2023

No fewer than 21 suspected bandits have been reportedly killed by combined forces of security operatives and members of the vigilante group in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Wednesday.

Danko Wasagu Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Hussani Aliyu-Bena who spoke to our correspondent on the incident said the bandits were crossing into Kebbi through Mariga in Niger State when they were ambushed at Tudun Bichi by combined forces of security agents and members of vigilante group in the area.

NAF Airstrike Kills 8 Terrorists In Borno September 20, 2023

Airstrike undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has killed eight terrorists in Borno State, North-East Nigeria.

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft was on armed reconnaissance mission on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 when it took out a guntruck with about eight terrorists at Baranga village in Marte local government area of the State.

Suspected Fulani herders kill three IDPs in Benue

Three displaced persons in the Agagbe camps, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. have been reportedly killed by suspected herders in their farms.

The victims Ortom Chiater, 25, (Tse-Ugber in Mbachohon council ward), Targule Sechivir, 30, (Tse-Jabi, Sengev council) and Kusa Amos, 50, (Tse-Utor Mbachohon council ward), were killed in their farms on Wednesday.

The camp chairman, Terna Jacob, who confirmed the killing, said the remains of the victims were found in their farms after hours of waiting for their return to the camp.

Girl Killed As Bandits Open Fire On Vehicle In Kaduna September 19, 2023

Tragedy struck as a young girl identified as Aisha Alhassan, was reportedly killed after suspected bandits shot at a vehicle in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It was gathered that the unfortunate incident happened on Tuesday morning, September 19, 2023, when the deceased, her father, Alhassan Yusuf, and other family members were on their way to Birnin Gwari.

Multiple sources confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

Gunmen kill 8 soldiers, policemen, others in Imo; burn 2 vehicles September 18, 2023

Unidentified gunmen, on Tuesday, attacked and killed no fewer than eight security operatives, and also set ablaze two vehicles in Imo state. An eyewitness told newsmen that the incident happened at about 11:30am in Oriagu, around the Aba branch in Ehime Mbano council area of Imo state.

The Imo State Police Command confirmed the killing which comprised soldiers, policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Army neutralises 3 members of Biafra National guard in Abia, recovers weapons September 18, 2023

The Nigerian Army says troops from the 14 Brigade Ohafia have neutralised three members of the Biafran National Guards in a forest between Arochukwu and Ohafia in Abia State.

A statement by the Army said troops raided the forest at the wee hours of Monday following a credible intelligence that the forest was being used as a base by the National Guard.

?

ABDUCTIONS

Zamfara university students kidnapped by bandits September 22, 2023

Students of the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara State were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of Friday.

Guardian reports that no fewer than 24 students were kidnapped after the bandits invaded the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area in the state.

A student of the school said those kidnapped during the attack in the community were mostly female.

Gunmen abduct Benue Information Commissioner September 24, 2023

Several gunmen stormed the residence of Mr. Matthew Abo, Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism in his home, Zaki-Biam, and abducted him at about 8.00 PM yesterday.

A statement by Mr. Tahav Agerzua, former Media Adviser the immediate past governor and an associate to the abducted commissioner said, “the kidnappers came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house including the commissioner’s wife and children to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles”.

Insecurity: Bandits kidnap nine construction workers in Zamfara September 21, 2023

One of the survivors of the attack who pleaded anonymity says, the bandits in their large number arrived the school on motorcycles and invaded the quarters were most of the occupants are staff of a Construction firm building in the university

The Victims are mostly casual staff of a Construction firm, building in the University.