Nigeria has recorded a sharp rise in deadly attacks and kidnappings weeks after U.S. warplanes bombed suspected terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025. In the 27 days that followed the airstrikes, at least 183 people were killed and 366 others were abducted across several northern states.
The Federal Government had welcomed the U.S. operation, describing it as support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. However, events after the strikes show that violence did not reduce. Instead, attacks spread across wide areas, with communities facing repeated raids by armed groups.
From Kaduna and Katsina in the North-West to Niger in the North-Central and Borno in the North-East, villages were attacked, residents killed and hundreds taken away. Kaduna State recorded some of the most disturbing incidents, including the abduction of 177 worshippers during church services in Kajuru Local Government Area in mid-January. Days later, a suicide attack in Borno State claimed the lives of five soldiers and left many injured.
Security reports show that bandit groups took advantage of the confusion after the airstrikes to expand their activities. They moved into new areas, increased kidnapping operations and attacked rural communities with little resistance. At the same time, Boko Haram and ISWAP continued their operations in the North-East, maintaining their presence despite foreign military action.
A new armed group, Lakurawa, also increased its activities in parts of Sokoto State. Unlike regular bandits, the group combines criminal actions with ideological control, collecting levies from communities and recruiting local youths. Security officials fear its growth could turn the North-West into another long-term conflict zone.
Records gathered from security agencies, humanitarian groups and media reports show daily attacks during the period under review. These included killings and abductions in Plateau, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states. Many incidents in remote areas were not fully reported, suggesting the real figures may be higher.
Before the U.S. strikes, Nigeria had already faced years of insecurity linked to terrorism and banditry. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of abductions in recent years. While kidnapping cases dropped slightly in 2024, violence increased again in 2025, with thousands killed in the first half of the year alone.
Security experts say Nigeria’s crisis has changed into a complex conflict involving terrorists, criminal gangs and mixed groups that blend both motives. Kidnapping has also become a well-organised business, with networks handling intelligence, attacks, negotiations and ransom payments.
Analysts are divided on the impact of the U.S. airstrikes. Some believe the action weakened certain groups, while others argue it scattered fighters and made the situation harder to control. What remains clear is that military action alone has not stopped the violence.
With weak government presence in rural areas, widespread poverty, joblessness, illegal arms and porous borders, Nigeria now faces a growing security challenge. Without addressing these deeper problems, attacks and abductions may continue to spread, leaving communities trapped in fear and instability.