Nigeria is currently grappling with a spate of mass abductions. But the vast country also faces many other security challenges.
There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, which is roughly divided into a mainly Muslim north, a largely Christian south, with intermingling in the middle - and the government says people of all faiths have been victims of attacks.
There are criminal gangs in the north-west, an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, clashes over land in the north central regions and separatist unrest in the south-east, and now we have the bandits in the south-west region of the country - leaving the 400,000-strong army and the police force of 370,000 officers overstretched.
Here's a breakdown of the main armed groups and flashpoints:
*'Bandits' - kidnap gangs and the Fulani-Killer-Herdsmen*
These criminal gangs, known locally as "bandits", are largely composed of people from the Fulani ethnic group, who traditionally make their living by raising animals. They have traded their pastoral tools for assault rifles, which have flooded Nigeria - and other states in the region. The gangs, which sometimes fight one another, also travel to neighbouring states and central regions to carry out kidnappings.
The herders are mainly Fulani Muslims, while the farmers are largely Christians from various ethnic communities. Fulani families traditionally walk for hundreds of kilometres from the extreme north to central Nigeria and beyond at least twice a year to find food for their cattle.
*Boko-Haram - jihadist group*
This Islamist terrorist group became infamous around the world in 2014 for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls from the village of Chibok - around 90 of whom remain missing.
It evolved from a local Islamist sect founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri with the official name of Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad and a political goal of creating an Islamic state. Local residents dubbed it Boko Haram - a name which in the Hausa language loosely translates as "Western education is forbidden" because of their opposition to Western-style schools. It still conducts regular attacks on both civilians and security forces.
*Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) - Boko-Haram splinter group*
Boko Haram routinely targeted markets and mosques, often with suicide bombers. ISWAP generally avoids attacking Muslim civilians and focuses on military and government targets.
*Ansaru - Boko Haram splinter group*
This splinter group has moved away from the north-east, where Boko Haram and ISWAP dominate, to carry out its operations.
*Lakurawa - jihadist group*
A relatively new Islamist militant group, which has been accused of cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage-taking and attacking top government officials.
*IPOB - separatist group in the Southeast Region of Nigeria*
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the south-east has its roots in the call for Biafran independence. Earlier this year, Simon Ekpa, leader of a breakaway faction of IPOB, was convicted in Finland of terrorism and other activities in the Southeast of Nigeria and was sentenced on September 1, 2025. Nigerian separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025. The leader of IPOB was convicted in Nigeria and given a life sentence.
*The Southwest region’s response to the failures of the Nigerian police and worsening insecurity in Nigeria – “Amotekun”*
The insecurity in Nigeria has now extended to the terror-safe-area in Nigeria – the Southwest region of Nigeria. Recently, the southwest region of Nigeria has become a target for infiltration by terror groups.
The development comes amid rising cases of kidnappings and attacks in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states. On May 15, bandits attacked three schools in Esinele, Yamota and Alawusa in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Teachers were killed, while 47 pupils and teachers were abducted during the attack.
I hereby urge both the Federal Government and the State Governments to do all in their power to crush these criminals head-on.
*Conclusion*
State and Community Policing is the antidote to the insecurity in Nigeria.
It contends that correcting this breach of the contract by government through a constitutional amendment or a new constitution which removes police issues from the exclusive list to the concurrent lists in the Federal Constitution as well as give more powers to the Federating Units is fundamental not only in solving the security issues in the country but also in tackling other issues confronting the country. I hereby urge members of the National Assembly to pass the Law to create State and Community policing.
Let us continue to pray for the PEACE of God to reign supreme in Nigeria.
His Holiness,
*The Most Revd. Dr. Rufus Okikiola OSITELU*
Primate of The Church of the Lord (TCL) Worldwide and
The President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from Africa
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