Celebration over the recent rescues in Kebbi and Kwara states has been short-lived as bandits struck again, barely 24 hours after the presidency announced the liberation of 38 worshippers from Eruku in Kwara State. The operation, credited to coordinated pressure from the DSS and the military, had sparked nationwide praise.
Despite President Bola Tinubu commending security agencies for safely returning the students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State, and the Eruku worshippers, armed groups have opened new fronts in the North-west and North-central regions.
The Isapa Attack
On Monday evening, gunmen stormed the Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, just five kilometres from Eruku. Locals report that the attackers moved with a large herd of cattle to mask their approach before launching the raid.
While the Kwara State Police confirmed 10 people were abducted, community leaders suggest the number may be closer to 20, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.
“The bandits targeted a businessman who had previously paid ransom. When they could not locate him, they seized his family and neighbours instead,” said Abayomi Daramola, a local community leader.
Kano and Niger Incidents
In Kano State, insecurity has also escalated, with 10 residents abducted in Tsanyawa Local Government Area on Monday night. The attacks are believed to be spillovers from bandit activities in neighbouring Katsina State.
Meanwhile, Niger State continues to grapple with a bureaucratic deadlock over the St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, abductions. While 24 students in Kebbi have been reunited with their families, more than 265 children in Papiri remain in captivity. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga disclosed on Tuesday that the federal government lacks accurate data on the exact number of victims due to incomplete reports from the school authorities and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Political Row Over Kebbi Rescue
The Kebbi rescue has also sparked controversy. The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) questioned Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle’s statement that no ransom was paid. A video surfaced in which bandits reportedly suggested that the government opted for negotiation rather than force, prompting PDP accusations of reviving “peace deals” with criminals. The government has yet to issue an official response.
In response to the rising wave of attacks, President Tinubu has ordered round-the-clock aerial surveillance over forests in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states to prevent further abductions and strengthen the security response.
