Abuja: Nigeria has launched a new military operation after a deadly attack on villages in the country’s west killed more than 160 people, as authorities also confirmed the safe return of Christians who were abducted in a separate incident in the north.
The government said the new operation aims to stop armed groups from expanding into areas that had largely avoided large scale militant violence. The move follows attacks on rural communities in Kwara State, where gunmen stormed villages, killed residents and burned homes.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and ordered security forces to move quickly to protect civilians and restore calm. Military officials said additional troops have been deployed and patrols increased around forested areas believed to be used by militants.
Authorities have not confirmed which group carried out the Kwara attack, but security officials say Islamist militants are increasingly moving south and west from traditional conflict zones. Lawmakers and aid workers warned that the number of victims could rise as more information becomes available from remote areas.
At the same time, officials in northern Nigeria said a group of Christians who were abducted earlier have returned home safely. The victims were taken from communities in Kaduna State during an earlier attack. Details of how they were freed were not made public, but local leaders confirmed that they were reunited with their families.
The return of the abducted Christians has brought some relief to families and church leaders, even as the country faces renewed fear after the violence in the west. Community leaders said the two events highlight the wide reach of insecurity affecting different regions of the country.
Humanitarian groups are urging the government to provide urgent support to displaced families in Kwara, many of whom lost relatives and homes. They also called for stronger protection for rural communities that remain vulnerable to sudden attacks.
The latest developments underline the growing challenge for Nigeria as it battles multiple security threats across a vast territory, with officials warning that sustained military and social efforts will be needed to prevent further violence.