Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, Managing Editor | Journalist at Sele Media Africa.

Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani has issued a strong condemnation of extremist violence in northern Nigeria, warning that armed groups who claim to act in the name of religion are in fact perpetrating atrocities that contradict the fundamental teachings of faith and humanity. In a sharply worded statement that has circulated widely across Nigerian media and social platforms, Sani described the militants—often self-identified as “jihadists”—as perpetrators of brutality against both Muslims and Christians, accusing them of weaponizing religion to justify violence and criminality. The former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna State in the Senate from 2015 to 2019, outlined a pattern of violence attributed to extremist groups operating across parts of northern Nigeria. According to Sani, the armed groups have engaged in killings, kidnappings for ransom, sexual violence, and attacks on communities regardless of religious affiliation. “These groups spill innocent blood without restraint,” Sani said, stressing that their actions contradict the moral principles they claim to defend.Attacks on both Muslims and Christians security analysts say one of the defining characteristics of insurgent and bandit groups in northern Nigeria is that their victims often include members of the same faith they claim to represent. Sani highlighted incidents where militants have attacked Muslim worshippers during prayers in mosques, including during the holy period of Ramadan. He also referenced cases where Christian communities have been targeted, with churches burned and worshippers killed. “These extremists spare neither women nor children,” he said, noting that kidnappings frequently involve civilians who are later forced to pay ransom for their freedom.
Reports from communities across the northwest and northeast have documented similar patterns. Armed groups have attacked farming villages, abducted travelers, and imposed violence on already vulnerable populations. Kidnappings, forced marriage, and sexual violence one of the most disturbing aspects of the crisis, according to rights advocates, is the use of abduction and sexual violence as tools of terror. Sani accused extremist factions of sexually assaulting women and forcing victims into marriage with fighters. Such practices have been widely documented by humanitarian organizations and international observers in areas affected by insurgency. These crimes have long been associated with extremist factions such as Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, both of which have carried out attacks across Nigeria’s northeast for more than a decade. The abduction of women and girls has been one of the most internationally recognized aspects of the conflict, including the mass kidnapping of schoolgirls that drew global condemnation. Violence against rural communities Sani also drew attention to attacks on poor farming communities, where villagers often lack adequate protection from armed groups. Farmers and rural residents have increasingly become targets of violence in parts of northern Nigeria, where insecurity has disrupted agriculture and forced thousands to flee their homes.
Many communities in states such as Zamfara State, Sokoto State, and Katsina State have experienced repeated raids by armed groups involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and extortion. Analysts say these attacks have deepened humanitarian challenges, worsened food insecurity, and destabilized rural economies. Distorting religion for violence Sani emphasized that extremist groups’ actions have damaged the image of both the ethnic communities they originate from and the religion they claim to represent. “They demonise their ethnicity and the religion they falsely claim to represent,” he said, arguing that faith traditions should not be manipulated to justify violence against civilians. Security experts have similarly warned that extremist narratives often exploit religion as a recruitment tool, while their operations are driven by a combination of ideology, criminality, and territorial control. Nigeria’s ongoing security challenge
Nigeria continues to face complex security threats ranging from insurgency in the northeast to banditry and kidnapping across the northwest and parts of the central region. Successive governments have pledged to strengthen security operations and address the root causes of violence, including poverty, governance challenges, and regional instability.
However, rights advocates say stronger community protection, intelligence gathering, and justice mechanisms remain essential to counter the activities of armed groups.
For observers like Sani, the central message is clear: extremist violence must not be allowed to masquerade as religious struggle. “Their actions are nothing but cruelty,” he warned, adding that communities across Nigeria—Muslim and Christian alike—have suffered under the brutality of armed groups who claim a cause but practice terror. Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Premium Times, The Guardian Nigeria.

Afilawos Magana Sur

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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