Why gunmen dey increase attacks on north central Nigeria?
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
- Author, Abubakar Maccido
- Role, BBC News Pidgin
- Read am in 8 mins
In recent times, Nigeria don begin record an increased number of violent, terrorist attacks for north central Nigeria. For many years, bandits and Boko Haram terrorists don mostly target pipo for north east and west of Nigeria, but recently, dem don begin move enter oda parts of di kontri, including Kwara and Niger States wey don record several attacks in recent months.
More dan 75 pipo die afta one brutal attack wey suspected Boko Haram fighters carry out for one village inside Kwara State north central Nigeria dis February.
Di armed men attack two villages for Kwara State after di community pipo refuse to "surrender to extremists wey dey preach one strange doctrine," according to di state govnor.
Govnor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq write for X say, "75 local Muslims bin dey massacred" during di Tuesday raid, while one state lawmaker tell BBC say although dem bin don bury 78 pipo so far, di death toll fit rise reach about 170 as dem still dey recover more bodis.
President Bola Tinubu wey blame Islamist militant group Boko Haram for di killings deploy one army battalion go di affected area.
For January and early February 2026, Kwara and Niger States see sharp increase in violent attacks by armed bandits, for di northern and central parts of di state, wey cause many deaths and force plenty pipo comot from dia homes.
So why dis violent attacks dey increase for north central Nigeria in recent times?
Why gunmen dey increase attacks for north central Nigeria?
Dr Buhari Ubandawaki na monitoring and evaluation expert, wey get years of experience working with Non-governmental organisations, NGO's, wey dey familiar wit di region. E identify multiple factors behind di rising attacks by bandits and Boko Haram for Nigeria North-Central region, as e link di trend of attacks to financial incentives and military pressure.
Ubandawaki tell BBC News Pidgin say, one major factor na international attention, especially allegation of Christian genocide and perceived United States interest to protect Christian populations.
For December 2025, US President Trump say dem launch a "powerful and deadly strike" against di Islamic State for Nigeria- few months afta e declare Nigeria as kontri of particular concern sake of how dem dey kpai 'thousands of Christians' for di kontri.
"Di recent allegation of Christian genocide and di US interest and display of political ambition to protect Christians bin shift di interest of di bandits and Boko Haram to conduct attacks for some locations wit large populations of Christians," e tok.
According to am, extremist groups deliberately dey target such areas to remain relevant.
"Dis bandits and Boko Haram always want to dey for di center of news and political interest, wey dey give dem more power," Ubandawaki add.
E still point to di profit of kidnapping for ransom, as e note say north-central states dey more wealthy dan parts of di North-West.
"North-central states dey wealthy compared to locations for di north-west of Nigeria. Di ransom paid to kidnappers dey play role in di increase in attacks for di north-central," e tok.
Anoda contributing factor, e tok, na increased military pressure for oda regions.
E explain say as pressure dey mount, armed groups dey forced to relocate.
"As di military dey intensify pressure and attacks on bandits and Boko Haram, di terrorists go need to strategize and move to locations wey dem consider safer for dia operations, in order to divert di attention of the Nigerian military," e tok.
Wetin govment need to do?
For possible solutions, Ubandawaki tok say Nigeria security challenges now require broader and more coordinated responses.
One of im key recommendations na to cut off arms supply routes.
"Di terrorists no fit dey defeated until dia supply routes dey cut off," e tok.
Ubandawaki identify Niger Republic as one major entry point for illegal arms.
"Most of di arms wey terrorists dey use bin dey smuggled inside di kontri from Libya through Niger Republic," e tok.
E suggest border fencing as solution.
"To address dis problem, I go recommend make Nigeria fence im borders," e tok.
Even though e admit say some pipo fit doubt di idea, e insist say e possible.
"Some pipo fit tink say dis plan too big or no possible, but e dey very possible since Nigeria get di money to finance am," e tok.
Di security expert still emphasize di importance of cooperation between civilians and security agencies.
According to am, communities get role to play for early response.
"Civilians fit form local vigilante groups as di first line of protection for dia communities before di military bring reinforcement," e tok.
Finally, e call for di creation of state police and forest guards, especially for northern states.
"Di state govnors need to create state police and forest guards wey go protect villages and monitor di forests wia di terrorists dey use as hideout camps," e tok.
Timeline of attacks and killings for central Nigeria
March 2025 - For ending of March, about 52 pipo bin kpai for inside one attack for Bokkos local govment area of Plateau State.
Di development bin make di National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to visit di area and tok say enough don dey enough for di killers, and e go make sure say di killings stop.
Wit all di ginger wey dat tori bin make, di killings still dey go on.
April 2025 - Anoda attack bin hapun for Bassa local govment area of Plateau State, north-central Nigeria, according to wetin residents bin tell BBC News Pidgin.
Di attack bin hapun for di early hours of Monday, 14 April between 1:00am and 2:00am.
Yakubu Ventim wey be tori pesin for di state bin tok say di chairman of Bassa local govment area, Joshua Sunday Riti, bin carry some TV tori pipo wit plenty security to di community wia di attack bin hapun.
"Na about 38 to 50 pipo dem bin massacre for di village dis morning.
"Dem ambush di community and kill mostly women and children," oga Ventim tok.
May 2025 - At least 10 pipo die sake of kasala between herders and farmers for Riyom Local Goment Area of Plateau State.
Tori pipo Channels Television bin report say from wetin start from farm destruction, cattle rustling, and attacks on livestock, pipo from both Fulani and Berom communities clash.
Dem add say statement from Operation Safe Haven, confam say di insecurity for di council area bin start on Monday, May 12, 2025, wen suspected youths bin slaughter and rustle cattle wey bin enta dia farms for Dayan village, Riyom Local Goment Area.
To take revenge, di herders attack Danchindo village on di evening of May 13, dem kill four people befor dem run as dem hear say police dey come.
On May 14, di villagers bin kill 26 cows as dem dey para say dem kill dia pipo.
Di herders later comeback again dat day, dem attack one settlement near Wereng Kam community, wia dem kill six locals.
Wia dis foto come from, ZAKARIA KONTAGORA
June 2025 - E be like say di month of June record di highest killings in recent times for Benue State.
Di number of pipo wey die from di attacks on Gwer West and Apa local govment areas of Benue State pass 50.
Eyewitnesses bin also tok say some pipo still dey miss sake of out of fear and to run for dia lives some pipo jump inside well.
Suspected herdsmen bin attack residents of Tse-Antswam for Naka town, wey be headquarters of Gwer West LGA and Edikwu Ankpali for Apa local govment area of Benue State.
According to Nema first report on Monday 16 June, 2025 na 100 pipo die, and 6,500 dey displaced for Benue attack.
But locals and oda tori pipo tok say di number dey around 200.
Ova di years, kasala between herders and farmers na regular tin for many parts of northern Nigeria including Plateau and Benue states.
July 2025 - one fresh attack wey suspected gunmen carry out kill 27 pipo, for one attack wey hapun for Bindi (Jebu) village, Tahoss community, Riyom Local Govment Area of Plateau State north central Nigeria.
National Chairman of Berom Youth Moulders-Association, Solomon Dalyop Mwantiri, yarn give BBC News Pidgin say di incident wey hapun don bring back serious concern about how safe rural communities dey for di state.
E add say di attack wey kill 27 pipo including women and children hapun on Tuesday.
"Around 3:am, hundreds of dem enta di whole area. Di vigilante pipo try resist dem, and military position demselves for two different places.
November 2025- One attack happun for di Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) for Oke Isegun, for Ekiti Local Govment Are, Kwara State during di church evening programme.
Di 38 worshippers wey jaguda pipo kidnap from di church for Eruku community, on Tuesday,18 November later regain dia freedom.
November 2025- For November again, gunmen bin kidnap over 200 children from one Catholic school for Niger state.
Dem later regain dia freedom.
January 2026- Earlier dis year bandits attack pipo for Kasuwan Daji market, dem catch up to almost 40 pipo, tie dia hand for dia back, den slaughter dem wit knife.
For statement, tok-tok pesin for di Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun say na around 4:30 on Saturday night di bandits attack di village.
"Suspected bandits for National Park Forest along Kabe District, invade Kasuwan-Daji wey dey for Demo Village via Kabe, Dem burn di market, loot shops and carry items.
