Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, (Managing Editor) investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
A fresh wave of deadly violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and Northeast has left at least 48 people dead, deepening fears over the country’s deteriorating security landscape and the growing reach of armed militant groups. In separate incidents reported in Benue State and Borno State, civilians, traders, and security personnel were killed in coordinated attacks that unfolded over several days but dominated the national news cycle on March 5 following confirmation of casualty figures and the release of disturbing images from affected communities. Deadly attacks in Benue’s Kwande area authorities confirmed that at least 30 people were killed in attacks targeting communities in Kwande Local Government Area, an area that has increasingly become a flashpoint of violent clashes involving armed groups. According to local officials and security sources, 13 traders were killed in Anwase Village when gunmen attacked a trading hub, opening fire on residents and traders.In a separate but related assault, 17 people—including a police officer—were killed in Mbaikyor after militants stormed the community. Survivors reported homes being burned and residents fleeing into nearby forests to escape the violence. Images emerging from Woro showed rows of homes reduced to ashes, highlighting the scale of destruction left in the wake of the attacks. Local leaders say the assaults occurred over several days, but the confirmation of casualties and visual evidence circulating on March 5 drew nationwide attention to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region. Security analysts note that Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long faced recurring violence linked to disputes over land, farming routes, and the activities of heavily armed militant groups. Jihadist Raid in Borno near Cameroon border meanwhile, in northeastern Nigeria, a separate attack attributed to jihadist militants struck a military facility and nearby civilian settlement in Borno State, close to the border with Cameroon.Security sources reported that at least 18 people were killed during the raid. The victims included seven Nigerian soldiers stationed at the base and 11 civilians living in the surrounding community. The attack underscores the continuing threat posed by extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin, where insurgent factions have maintained an active presence despite years of military operations. Regional security officials say the militants launched the assault in a coordinated strike aimed at both military and civilian targets. Mass Abduction Reported in Ngoshe in another alarming development, local sources reported that militants abducted more than 300 people—including women and children—from the town of Ngoshe. While authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of abductees, community leaders say the mass kidnapping has triggered widespread panic among residents, many of whom have fled to neighboring towns seeking safety. Borno State remains the epicenter of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency involving extremist groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province. Renewed security concerns the latest attacks highlight persistent security challenges facing Africa’s most populous nation. Despite repeated military campaigns and regional cooperation initiatives, armed groups continue to stage deadly raids on rural communities and security installations.Humanitarian organizations warn that the violence is worsening displacement across northern Nigeria, with thousands of civilians forced to abandon their homes. Analysts say the combination of insurgency in the northeast and communal violence in the Middle Belt underscores the complex security dynamics confronting Nigeria.Sources reports and confirmations referenced by major international and regional media outlets including Reuters; BBC News; Al Jazeera; Associated Press; and Premium Times.
Afilawos Magana Sur is a journalist from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, currently based in Bauchi metropolis. He is known for his commitment to accurate, ethical, and responsible journalism, with a focus on reporting issues of public relevance and community development.
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