By Warri Voice Editorial Team
November 20, 2025
In the dusty heartlands of Nigeria's Northwest—states like Kebbi,
Kaduna, Zamfara, and Sokoto—fear has become the unwelcome dawn for communities
once defined by resilient farming and vibrant markets. What began as sporadic
banditry has morphed into a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe, with gunmen
launching brazen attacks on schools, churches, and villages. As of today, over
400 abductions have been reported in the region this month alone, alongside
dozens of confirmed killings that shatter families and displace thousands. The
federal government's vows of security ring hollow amid the gunfire, leaving
residents to question: How much more blood must stain the Sahel before action
turns to resolve?
A Cycle of
Violence: From Bandits to Jihadist Shadows
Nigeria's
Northwest has long been a tinderbox, fueled by a toxic brew of poverty, ethnic
tensions, and arms proliferation. Bandit groups—often ethnic Fulani herders
turned marauders—dominate the narrative, driven by ransom demands, cattle
rustling, and territorial grabs. But recent escalations hint at darker
influences: The November 19 church attack in Kwara State, where assailants
killed at least two worshippers and abducted a pastor and over 30 others, marks
the first confirmed incursion by the Mali-based Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam
wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate. Eyewitness videos shared on X
capture the chaos: panicked congregants fleeing as heavy gunfire echoes through
the pews, a stark reminder that no sanctuary is safe.
This
assault came mere days after the November 17 raid on the Government Girls
Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State, where gunmen stormed the
dormitories before dawn, slaying the vice principal and whisking away 25
terrified schoolgirls. One girl escaped, her harrowing account painting a
picture of AK-47-toting attackers speaking Fulani as they herded the minors
into the bush. Security forces have intensified patrols, but as of November 20,
24 girls remain missing, their families clinging to faint hopes amid a
landscape scarred by similar horrors—like the 2014 Chibok abductions that still
haunt the national psyche.
These
aren't isolated strikes. Just last week, a Catholic priest was kidnapped in
Kaduna during a raid that also claimed the life of another cleric's brother,
while in Taraba (straddling Northwest and North-Central divides), Fulani
herdsmen attacks razed villages, killing 20-30 Christians in a three-day spree.
A brigadier general fell in an ambush, underscoring the military's
vulnerability, and healthcare workers face mounting threats, with the Red Cross
decrying assaults on clinics as "deeply concerning."
By the Numbers: A
Grim Tally of Terror
The
statistics are as unrelenting as the attacks themselves. Here's a snapshot of
the Northwest's November nightmare:
|
Incident |
Date |
Location |
Casualties/Kidnappings |
Details |
|
School
Abduction |
Nov
17 |
Kebbi
(Danko/Wasagu LGA) |
1
killed (VP); 25 abducted (1 escaped) |
Gunmen
raid dorms; ransom demands unconfirmed. |
|
Church
Massacre |
Nov
19 |
Kwara
(Eruku) |
2
killed; 30+ abducted (incl. pastor) |
First
JNIM-linked attack; video evidence circulates. |
|
Priest
Kidnapping |
Nov
18 |
Kaduna |
1
killed; 1 priest abducted |
Raid
on parish; brother of another cleric slain. |
|
Village
Attacks |
Nov
9-11 |
Taraba |
20-30
killed |
Herdsmen
target Christian farming communities. |
|
Customs
Officer Murder |
Early
Nov |
Kebbi
(Yauri LGA) |
1
killed |
Scholar
also slain on farm; escalating banditry. |
Sources:
AP News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and X eyewitness reports. Overall, banditry has surged 15% since 2020, with over 3,600 deaths
nationwide from violence this year—many in the Northwest's bandit enclaves.
Government's
Response: Words Amid the Warfare
President
Bola Tinubu postponed his G20 trip to oversee the Kebbi rescue, while security
chiefs vow "decisive action." Yet critics, including X users like
@PharmMaidoki, decry the cycle: "Ongoing violence by bandits, insurgents
like Boko Haram/ISWAP... has claimed thousands this year alone." Kebbi
native @Bashir_GS echoes the frustration: "The state and federal
governments must act decisively to end this madness." International eyes
are turning too—U.S. Rep. Riley Moore's hearings on "Christian
genocide" claims add pressure, though locals like @AbdulYahusa stress the
violence's cross-faith toll: "Boko Haram attacks mostly affect Muslim
communities."
Voices from the
Ground: A Cry for Unity
On
X, the pulse of despair beats loud. @Henrytamara5 laments: "The scourge of
terrorism and banditry continues to cast a long shadow over Nigeria."
@taiwoogun1980 adds: "Kidnappings, attacks... have caused fear,
displacement, and economic disruption." Amid the grief, calls for
self-defense ring out—@Ziyos_sw urges: "Northwest Nigeria... start
defending yourselves. These attacks are getting out of hand." And
@ChiemeziemChid1 repurposes Tinubu's old words: "The festering...
attacks... is concrete proof that Nigeria has no government."
A Path Forward:
Demanding More Than Prayers
The
Northwest's killings aren't just statistics—they're stolen futures, from
schoolgirls dreaming of classrooms to priests preaching peace. As @PharmMaidoki
implores: "Nigeria deserves peace. #EndViolenceInNigeria
#BringBackOurGirls." It's time for holistic solutions: bolstering rural
policing, tackling root causes like poverty and land disputes, and fostering
community militias under strict oversight. The world watches—will Nigeria act
before the horizon bleeds dry?
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