The week under review (July 24 - 30, 2023) ended with 55 deaths and 48 abductions. The deaths were recorded in nine attacks in Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Katsina, Plateau, Niger, and Zamfara states, while the abductions which took place in Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, and Plateau states, occurred in five separate attacks.

The deaths occurred through banditry, unknown gunmen and cultism attacks.  A disaggregation of those killed include: 11 law enforcement officers, 20 vigilantes,1 cleric and 23 others.  

Below is a summary of the separate attacks and links.

A comparative analysis with the preceding week however shows that the week under review recorded a 400% increase in total number of death and 200% increase in recorded number of abductions.

Gunmen kidnap one, injure many in Plateau attack July 30, 2023

Resident was yesterday abducted and several others were severely injured by gunmen who attacked the Wadata Kasuwa community in Wase Local Government Council of Plateau State.

The attackers stormed the community at about 2 a.m., announcing their presence with sporadic gunshots.

Traditional ruler of the community, the Ponzhi Lot Nden said: “It is true that some unknown gunmen attacked Wadata Kasuwa at 2 a.m. on Sunday. They kidnapped one person and inflicted injuries on several others.” The spokesman for the police command, DSP Alfred Alabo, said he would find out and reverts but did not do so at the time of this report.

Gunmen Attack Estate, Kill One In Katsina July 30, 2023

Gunmen have killed a man in the Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Channels Television reports that the man was shot after the gunmen invaded a low-cost residential estate near the Kankia General Hospital on Saturday night.

An eyewitness told Channels Television on a telephone call that the assailants riding on motorcycles invaded the estate last night and shot sporadically thereby killing the victim identified as Alhaji Ibrahim Baraya Solo.

The police spokesman in the State, ASP Abubakar Aliyu also confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday, stating that, the police investigation has already commenced to fish out the criminal elements.

Gunmen Behead Man In Delta July 30

Gunmen have reportedly beheaded a 26-year-old man, Oghenevwede Aminah, a nephew to Mr Joseph Aminah, former chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Sapele, of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The public relations officer of the Delta State police command, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident, said the command had launched a manhunt for the suspected killers of the deceased.

Bandits attack Nigeria immigration checkpoint, kill two July 28, 2023

The Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto State Command, has confirmed an attack by bandits on an immigration checkpoint in the Gwadabawa Local Government Area of the state on Friday night.

The spokesman for the command, Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed this in a phone conversation with our correspondent on Sunday.

He confirmed that gunmen, suspected to be bandits, attacked the Mamman Suka village immigration checkpoint in the Gwadabawa LGA, killing two officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Unknown Gunmen Abduct Popular Broadcaster In Imo July 27, 2023

Unknown gunmen, on Thursday morning, abducted a popular broadcast journalist, Chinonso Uba, popularly known as NonsoNkwa in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Uba was accosted and whisked away by gun-wielding men after he finished anchoring his morning programme on Ozisa FM, Owerri, housed by Assumpta Cathedral of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese.

The manager of Ozisa FM, Rev. Fr Raymond Nzereogu, who confirmed the incident, said that he was yet to ascertain if the journalist was arrested or kidnapped.

Bandits kill seven in Bauchi attack July 27, 2023

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed seven people in Gara and Gamji villages in Burra District of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The bandits who came in their numbers were said to have attacked the villagers and shot sporadically into the air and in the process, killed seven people and injured many others.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists

Bandits Kill Cleric, 10 others, Abduct 40 and Traders Farmers in Kaduna July 26 – 27, 2023

Bandits killed Malam Yakubu Muhammad Bugai, the Vice-Chairman of Jama'atul Izalatul Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Birnin-Gwari. He died from injury sustained during an attack by bandits.

He was shot on his farm located around Rema area of Birnin-Gwari on Wednesday.

The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) in a statement Signed by the Chairman, Ishaq Usman Kasai, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow. The statement also said two persons were kidnapped on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 near Eka Farm, and also killed nine people on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Unguwan Roka of Kakangi Ward.

The bandits continued their rampage on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in Unguwan Danfulani, killing one person and kidnapping seven members from a single family.

“On the same day, they blocked traders and grain suppliers on their way to Birnin-Gwari weekly Market, kidnapping six persons during the hour-long operation.”

Cultists kill, behead notorious gang member inside Anambra market July 26, 2023

Persons suspected to be cultists on Wednesday morning killed a member of a rival gang, inside Eke Awka market, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The incident happened in the morning as traders were opening their shops for the day’s business, a source said.

The spokesperson for Anambra State Police Command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident, saying that operatives of the command have been dispatched to the scene.

Sit-at-home: Police Kill 3 Protesters in Enugu July 26, 2023

Tension heightened in Enugu State, yesterday, following the alleged killing of three residents by an anti-riot police squad, which forcefully wanted to stop traders at Ogbete Main Market protesting the lock-up of 106 shops and two banks by the Enugu State Government.  

It was also learnt that many other traders sustained various degrees of gun injuries.

Recall that the Enugu State government, on Monday, sealed the shops of traders who did not open their shops on Monday.

In a statement by the Police, Spokesman Mr Daniel Ndukwe, said: “Full-scale investigation has been initiated on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, while further development, especially as it concerns reports of casualties being circulated, will be communicated as soon as possible, please.”

Enugu: Gunmen Kidnap Three Female Bank Staff Working With FCMB July 26, 2023

Gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped three staff of an Enugu State branch of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

The three staff, females with one of them pregnant, were reported to have been abducted close to the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC).

Meanwhile, the FCMB in solidarity suspended banking operations on Wednesday, in search of its female staff.

Bandits kidnap 3 villagers, injure security personnel in Niger July 26, 2023

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have again attacked Garin Gabas near Yakila in Rafi local government area of Niger State where no fewer than three villagers were kidnapped.

Tribune Online learnt that two security personnel were injured during the attack while two operational vehicles belonging to security operatives were set ablaze.

Governor Bago in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the attack as unfortunate and commiserated with the families of the victims.

Gunmen kill two police officers during attack on government convoy July 25, 2023

Gunmen, on Tuesday, killed two police officers in Aba, Abia State, South-east Nigeria.

The police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, said an inspector and a constable were killed by the gunmen.

She said the incident happened when the gunmen attacked the convoy of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment in Abia, Chimezie Ukaegbu, on Tuesday evening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at the popular SAMECK Junction around Ariaria International Market. The police spokesperson, Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said the attack occurred around 4 p.m. on Tuesday while the commissioner was on a familiarisation tour of markets in the Aba metropolis.

Gunmen kill two policemen in Delta July 24, 2023

Some gunmen have attacked a police patrol team at Oleh roundabout in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state, killing two policemen and setting ablaze their patrol vehicle.

The Delta state police command Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.