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ABUJA, NIGERIA — The national relief following the rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 church worshippers in Kwara State has been tragically undercut by a fresh wave of mass kidnappings in Kwara and Kano states.

Security analysts say the renewed attacks suggest criminal syndicates are quickly opening new fronts in response to intensified military operations, ensuring the country's severe security crisis remains far from resolved.

Kwara Attack Hits Nearby Community

Barely 24 hours after the presidency confirmed the release of the 38 Christian worshippers in Kwara’s Eruku community, armed bandits struck a neighbouring village.

• Location: Isapa community in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State.

• Time: Monday evening.

• Victims: The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that 10 persons were abducted, though community sources claim the number is closer to 20. Victims reportedly include a pregnant woman, nursing mothers, and children.

• Circumstance: Reports indicate the attackers invaded the community by moving a large herd of cattle to disguise their approach before launching the assault, which included sporadic gunfire.

• Motive: A community leader stated the bandits initially targeted a businessman who had previously paid a ransom, but kidnapped his family and neighbours when they did not find him.

Kano State Records Midnight Raid

Further north, the wave of terror extended to Kano State, which has recently seen an increasing spillover of banditry from the neighbouring Katsina State.

• Location: Biresawa village and surrounding communities in Tsanyawa Local Government Area, Kano State.

• Time: Monday night.

• Victims: At least eight persons—including six women—were seized in a midnight raid.

• Response: Residents claim they had alerted security agencies after receiving prior warnings of the bandits' movement, but were still overpowered by the heavily armed gunmen.

Security Crisis Escalates

The fresh abductions underscore the persistent challenge facing President Bola Tinubu's administration, even as he orders more aggressive military responses.

• Niger Students Still Missing: The rescues in Kebbi and Kwara offer little comfort to the families of the over 265 students and staff still held captive from the St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, abducted days before the Kebbi schoolgirls.

• Non-Kinetic Controversy: The Federal Government claimed the Kebbi and Eruku hostages were released through "non-kinetic operations" (implying negotiation without ransom), a claim challenged by critics who suspect a return to controversial peace deals.

• Presidential Directive: In response to the wave of attacks, President Tinubu ordered a 24-hour aerial cordon over the forests of Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States to identify and neutralize bandit hideouts, alongside a directive to recruit 50,000 new police officers nationwide.

The attacks have triggered an internal review in the National Assembly, with the Senate recommending the death penalty for convicted kidnappers and terrorists in an effort to deter the rampant crime.