Nigeria’s security landscape remains on a knife-edge, as violent incidents over the past week have once again underscored the country’s volatile fault lines. From gang clashes in Lagos to terrorist ambushes in Borno and insurgent campaigns in Niger, the period from May 23 to 29, 2025 revealed a disturbing pattern: insecurity is no longer confined to remote conflict zones — it now cuts across every geopolitical region.
North East: Insurgents Tighten Their Grip
The northeast remains the country’s most persistent flashpoint. In Borno State’s Kukawa LGA, ISWAP insurgents mounted a deadly assault on members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), leaving yet more casualties in a year that has already claimed 41 of the vigilante group’s members. Elsewhere, Boko Haram terrorists rustled over 200 cattle in Yele bush, Monguno — another sign of criminal opportunism flourishing under the cover of insurgency.
Military forces scored a tactical win in Gajibo village, repelling a combined ISWAP and Boko Haram assault on a forward operating base. However, these sporadic victories are overshadowed by the insurgents’ resilience and expanding reach.
North West: Banditry Out of Control
Bandit attacks across Katsina, Zamfara, and Kebbi states reached alarming levels. In Dan-Musa, bandits killed several people in Rugar Gyada, while a particularly gruesome ambush in Matazu LGA saw vigilantes burnt alive alongside their vehicle. In Zamfara’s Tsafe LGA, four people were injured and several abducted, while Fatarawa community in Katsina’s Dutsin-Ma LGA was left in mourning after another massacre.
The insurgency in Zamfara escalated further with simultaneous attacks in Karakkai, Shinkafi, and Sabon Sarah communities, claiming lives and displacing residents.
North Central: Criminal Gangs Exploit Porous Borders
A major security operation on the Isi River boundary between Kogi and Enugu states rescued eight kidnapped victims — a reminder of how Nigeria’s neglected border communities have become fertile ground for kidnappers and armed gangs.
In Niger State’s Munya LGA, over 100 bandits attacked three villages, killing dozens and rustling over 200 cattle. These coordinated strikes reaffirm Munya’s reputation as a hotspot for loosely organised criminal gangs operating with impunity.
South East: The IPOB Insurgency Simmering On
In Abia State, the military dismantled an IPOB camp in Ugwunagbo, while in Anambra’s Isseke community, a prominent traditional leader and three women were murdered in a targeted assassination. This disturbing trend of secessionist militias targeting community leaders aims to dismantle local authority and deepen fear. Economic damage remains staggering: repeated lockdowns have cost the Southeast over ₦7.6 trillion in four years.
South South: Gang Wars in the Delta
Cult clashes in Oshimili North and South continue to claim lives, with the killing of a notorious Aye cultist known as Dozen by Vikings rivals. At least 16 gang-related incidents and six deaths have been recorded in Delta State in 2025, with rivalries stoked by unemployment and poverty.
South West: Lagos Under Siege
Gang violence surged in Alimosho LGA, Lagos, where Eiye and Aye cults clashed at public spaces, including a football viewing centre. In Ibadan, unknown gunmen attacked police at Sango Junction, a chilling reminder of rising criminal boldness. Ogun State’s Magboro also saw fresh cult violence between Eiye and Aye groups.
West Africa Regional Threat: Sahel’s Jihadist Resurgence
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) continue their cross-border operations. Tillabéri region in Niger remains a major terror hub, while Burkina Faso’s recapture of Gassan in Sourou Valley marks a fragile victory. In Mali, a drone strike in Tedjerit targeted insurgents’ logistics but failed to neutralise leadership — a sign of persistent operational strength despite counterterrorism efforts.
The Bigger Picture: A Security Architecture in Crisis
SBM Intelligence’s threat analysis reveals a troubling reality: while military operations yield occasional tactical successes, a lack of strategic, coordinated, and community-driven security frameworks leaves Nigeria’s security forces overstretched. Weak police-civilian relations, unaddressed root causes of conflict — from poverty to political marginalisation — and porous borders enable insurgents, bandits, and gangs to thrive.
Without bold reforms, sustained community engagement, and a clear, long-term national security strategy, Nigeria risks sliding deeper into a cycle of violence that no amount of military muscle alone can break.
