Fresh abductions in Kogi State and deadly Boko Haram attacks in Adamawa have intensified fears that Nigeria’s security crisis is entering a dangerous new phase, with violence spreading across multiple regions even as foreign-backed military operations target extremist groups in the North.
Several people were abducted on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, along the Omi-Odo Ara Road in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, according to local sources. The road links a cluster of rural communities, and authorities have yet to confirm the number or identities of the victims.
Community leaders told Sunday PUNCH that residents had observed unusual movements of armed men operating in small groups in recent days, raising concerns that militants displaced by recent U.S. airstrikes in northern Nigeria may be migrating southward following Christmas Day attacks.
The abductions came days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out what he described as “deadly strikes” against Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria. Nigeria’s Federal Government later confirmed it supported the operation, saying the strikes hit terrorist hideouts.
Residents in Yagba West said security agencies were alerted immediately after Tuesday’s incident, while communities were advised to limit movement, remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
Tension in the area has been building for days. On Sunday night, suspected terrorists carried out a coordinated raid on the Odo-Ere community, also in Yagba West, abducting at least four residents, according to SaharaReporters. Those taken were identified as Shina Ajere, Kehinde Afolabi, Damilola Ogun, and a woman popularly known as Iya Lara.
Witnesses said the attackers, believed to be heavily armed, moved from house to house firing sporadically, plunging the community into panic. Residents said the full scale of the abduction remains unclear, fueling fears that more people may have been taken.
Another nearby apartment was reportedly targeted, bearing visible gunshot damage, although the attackers failed to gain entry.
“The situation was chaotic. Gunshots were everywhere,” one resident said.
Community members have called on security agencies and the Kogi State Government to urgently deploy additional personnel and intensify rescue operations for those abducted.
The violence in Kogi comes as insurgents continue to launch deadly attacks in northeastern Nigeria. In Adamawa State, suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least eight people in coordinated assaults on Zah, Kijing and Mubang villages in Hong Local Government Area on Monday night.
Residents told Daily Trust that several houses were destroyed during the attacks, raising fears that the casualty figure could rise. Four people remain missing, while many villagers fled their homes to escape further violence.
“Many people believe the number of those killed may be more than eight because several houses were destroyed,” one resident said.
The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Inuwa Usman Wa’aganda, confirmed the attacks, saying authorities had recovered eight bodies from the affected communities.
“It is true. Boko Haram attacked Mubang, Zah and Kijing villages. Eight corpses have been recovered so far, and four persons are still missing,” he said.
The Adamawa attacks have heightened security concerns during the Christmas period, especially as previous assaults were reported in nearby Mayo Ladde and Garaha districts, pointing to sustained insurgent activity in the state.
Security analysts warn that as military pressure increases on terror groups in the North, vulnerable rural communities in other regions may face escalating threats, exposing gaps in Nigeria’s internal security response.
