Killings, abductions soar after U.S. airstrikes as terrorists kill 183, abduct 366 in 27 days

In less than four weeks after U.S. warplanes struck suspected terrorist targets in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, Nigeria’s security situation has deteriorated sharply rather than improved. The region has witnessed a dramatic rise in violence, with armed groups carrying out widespread attacks — killing civilians, abducting villagers, and challenging the nation’s counterterrorism efforts. 

A Grim Toll: Hundreds Killed and Abducted

Since the holiday-season airstrikes, coordinated raids and violent actions by terrorists and bandits have been reported from Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, Borno and Plateau states. A compilation of security reports and field data suggests that at least 183 people were killed and 366 abducted across these regions between December 25, 2025 and January 21, 2026. 

In one of the most disturbing incidents, armed gangs attacked three church congregations in Kaduna State during worship, abducting scores of worshippers. Religious and community leaders, along with civil society groups, have since urged federal authorities to intensify rescue operations and protect vulnerable communities. 

Security analysts believe the surge in violence signals a complex and evolving threat landscape. Rather than dismantling extremist networks, the airstrikes appear to have fragmented armed groups and created power vacuums that bandits and hybrid militias have exploited to expand their reach and embolden attacks. 

Beyond Boko Haram: A Multi-Layered Threat

The current wave of violence isn’t limited to long-standing jihadist groups like Boko Haram and its splinter Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Newly emerging groups — such as the so-called Lakurawa — are blending ideological militancy with organised crime, imposing informal “taxes” on local communities, recruiting youths, and coordinating raids far from traditional insurgency zones. 

Bandits and criminal gangs, traditionally focused on ransom-driven kidnappings, are now coordinating with or capitalising on jihadist dispersal. This convergence of motives has intensified attacks on rural villages, transit routes, and places of worship, making insecurity a daily reality for many Nigerians in the affected states. 

Security Implications and Government Response

Nigerian military and civil security agencies face criticism for failing to stem the rising tide of violence. Analysts argue that air power alone — especially foreign air strikes — cannot eliminate deeply rooted insurgent and bandit networks without complementary strategies that address local grievances, governance gaps, economic marginalisation, and community policing. 

Calls for stronger grassroots security measures, better intelligence sharing, and renewed federal-state cooperation are growing louder as the humanitarian toll mounts. Many communities remain isolated, with limited access to protection and emergency services. 

A Nation at a Crossroads

The surge in killings and mass kidnappings reflects a broader, more complex crisis than the traditional Boko Haram insurgency of the past decade. It underscores the challenges Nigeria faces in adapting its security approach to a deeply fragmented threat environment where terrorists, armed bandits, and hybrid militant groups now operate simultaneously. 

As international partners weigh further involvement and the federal government reassesses its strategy, the pressing question remains: Can Nigeria craft a comprehensive security response that not only suppresses violence but also strengthens community resilience and state capacity across its most vulnerable regions? The answer will shape the country’s stability in the months ahead.