Terrorists Dare Trump as Fresh Attacks Kill Scores

Armed groups have intensified attacks across several northern states following recent United States air strikes against Islamic State–linked militants in Sokoto State.

Between December 25, 2025, and January 2, 2026, at least 47 people were killed and no fewer than 35 others abducted in a wave of violence spanning Adamawa, Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Yobe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, and Niger states. The attacks were attributed to bandits as well as fighters linked to ISWAP and Boko Haram. More than 12 people were also reported injured, while the actual number of abductees may be higher due to incomplete reporting in some incidents.

The escalation followed a public announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that American forces had carried out air strikes on Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria. U.S. authorities later stated that intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorists in the targeted areas, noting that assessments of the impact were ongoing.
Renewed violence across communities

Monitoring of security incidents during the period shows widespread assaults on rural communities. In Kogi State, several residents were abducted during attacks on Omi-Ara and Odo-Ere communities in Yagba West Local Government Area. In Kwara State, suspected bandits abducted more than eight people from Adanla community, while the traditional ruler of Aafin community and one of his sons were kidnapped in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

In Kebbi State, coordinated attacks on multiple villages in Shanga Local Government Area left at least eight people dead. Zamfara State recorded the abduction of 16 women, alongside fatalities and injuries, during an assault on Sabon-Layi village in Gusau Local Government Area. In Plateau State, at least seven farmers were killed during an attack in Jos South.

Gunmen also struck Kunza community in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing three people and injuring several others. Along the Ogbe-Egbe Road, travellers were abducted and one person injured. In Yobe State, ISWAP claimed responsibility for firing mortars at a military location in Goniri, though the extent of damage was not made public.

A security analyst reported that ISWAP raided a village, killing residents described as “hostile,” destroying a church and numerous homes, and seizing property. The language used marked a notable shift in how the group described its targets.

Boko Haram attack in Adamawa
In Adamawa State, local authorities confirmed that Boko Haram fighters killed 14 people during nighttime attacks on Mubang and Zar villages in Hong Local Government Area. Two others were injured, and homes and food supplies were destroyed. Officials noted that the villages’ proximity to ungoverned forest areas made them vulnerable to attack.

Kano attack and military response
In Kano State, bandits attacked several villages in Shanono Local Government Area, engaging security forces in hours-long clashes. While initial reports suggested casualties and cattle theft, the Nigerian Army later stated that no deaths or rustling occurred during the encounter.

Movement of armed groups
Community leaders and security sources indicated that militants displaced by the air strikes may be attempting to move into Niger and Kaduna states through border routes linked to Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kwara. This development has heightened tension in rural areas, prompting local armed groups to enforce stricter controls to prevent infiltration. Aerial surveillance has reportedly been intensified in parts of Niger State and neighbouring regions.

Despite the wider escalation, no attacks were reported in Sokoto State after the air strikes. Residents of previously affected communities said the situation had remained relatively calm, attributing the lull to the disruption of militant hideouts and the dispersal of fighters.

Many affected communities across the region, however, remain on edge, with some residents fleeing their homes amid fears of further attacks.