Fresh fears have gripped residents of Kwara and Kebbi states after armed terrorists launched coordinated attacks on several communities, abducting at least 23 people and forcing many villagers to flee their homes.
According to local sources and security reports, the attacks occurred late Sunday night when heavily armed men stormed villages in parts of both states, shooting sporadically and moving from house to house in search of victims. Witnesses said the attackers operated for hours with little resistance before escaping into nearby forests with the abducted residents.
In Kwara State, the attack reportedly took place in communities within Kaiama Local Government Area, where residents said the gunmen invaded homes and kidnapped several villagers, including women and children. Survivors described scenes of panic as people ran into bushes for safety while the attackers fired gunshots to scare residents.
A similar incident was also reported in Kebbi State, where armed men raided villages in the Zuru axis and abducted multiple residents during the overnight assault. Community leaders said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and took victims away through remote forest routes believed to be frequently used by criminal groups operating in the region.
The latest attacks have heightened concerns about worsening insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, especially in rural communities where residents often complain of slow security response and inadequate protection.
Security agencies confirmed that joint operations involving the military, police and local vigilante groups have been launched to track down the attackers and rescue the kidnapped victims. Authorities also assured residents that efforts were ongoing to strengthen surveillance in vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, community leaders and residents have continued to call on the federal government to intensify security operations and provide better protection for rural populations increasingly exposed to attacks, kidnappings and violent raids.
The renewed wave of abductions comes amid growing national concern over persistent insecurity across several northern states, where terrorist and bandit groups continue to target villages, schools and highways despite ongoing military offensives.
