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Nigeria's Bandit Crisis: Churches, Schools Targeted
15 Dec
Summary
- Criminal gangs, referred to as bandits, are increasingly kidnapping for ransom.
- Mass abductions target schools and places of worship across central Nigeria.
- Security efforts face challenges due to thin presence in rural areas.
Nigeria is facing a severe and ongoing insecurity crisis, primarily driven by criminal gangs operating as bandits. These groups are increasingly resorting to kidnapping individuals for ransom, with recent incidents highlighting a disturbing trend of attacks on vulnerable institutions. Places of worship and educational facilities have become prime targets, underscoring the pervasiveness of the threat across the north-western and central regions of the country.
The scale of these abductions is alarming, with hundreds of children and staff recently taken from a school in Niger state. While the government initially attributed some incidents to jihadist groups, analysts suggest these are largely the work of criminal gangs. These attacks put immense pressure on local communities and security forces, who struggle to maintain control.
