Terror Reign Persists: Abuja, Middle-Belt Towns Grapple with Unrelenting Attacks

A wave of terror continues to grip several states in Nigeria as terrorists and bandits unleash violence, resulting in casualties and kidnappings. Among the targeted states are Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, and Plateau, leaving communities on edge.

Garam in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, near Abuja, has faced relentless attacks since December 24, 2023. The marauders, responsible for killing a pastor and kidnapping 13 individuals, extended their violence to the neighboring Zuma community in Bwari Area Council.

Fearful of bandit attacks, residents of Garam opted against observing the crossover service on December 31, 2023. A source revealed that, despite some churches holding services with heightened security, bandits returned on January 2, 2024, kidnapping an entire family as soldiers arrived after the assailants had departed.

Zuma community in Bwari Area Council suffered its fifth attack since Christmas Eve, resulting in the shooting of two security personnel and an undisclosed number of abductions. The estimated count of kidnapped individuals has now surpassed 55, with four reported deaths, including the wife of a slain pastor who succumbed to the trauma of losing her husband and the abduction of her children.

Gunmen targeted a shopping mall in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing four customers in a chilling attack at about 8.45 pm. Residents express growing concern over the rising incidents of gun violence in the state, citing recent abductions of local government officials, a lecturer, and students from various educational institutions.

In a separate incident in Plateau, bandits claimed the lives of the Chief Imam of Jumma’at Mosque in Ndun village, Tangur District, and a commercial motorbike (Okada) rider, Muhammad Gambo. The Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association confirmed the tragic event, revealing that the younger brother of the slain Imam was injured during the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at Dung Hospital in Bokkos town.

Despite the escalating crisis, efforts to obtain responses from relevant authorities, including the Police and Defense Headquarters, have proven futile. Residents across affected regions call for urgent and comprehensive security measures to safeguard lives and property. The situation remains dire as terror continues to cast a shadow over communities in Abuja and the Middle Belt.