By Eric Elezuo
Much as the month, November, has so far harbored uncertainty and uncanny happenings in Nigeria, the last one week has proved to be a period of untold occurrences that have prevented laughter and cheers among citizens, but sent chill, terror and blatant display of evil rooted in man’s inhumanity to man across borders.
In just one week, a lot has happened to reduce the country to a den of criminals, and justifiably bear the tag ‘disgrace’ as labeled by the United States President Donald Trump. In one week, civilians and men in uniform have been slaughtered, school children have been abducted from their schools, worshippers have been sacked, killed and taken from the place of worship, and not forgetting supposed freedom fighters have been found guilty by a court of law, and sentenced to life in jail. It has been a week of sorrow, tears and blood as afrobeat king, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti of blessed memory, would rightly say.
The resurgence of the terrorism activities is in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of targeted killings against Christians in the country. Much as attacks in Nigeria have affected both Christians and Muslims, the Christians have cried out loudly, claiming a genocide against the religion by Muslim iridentists, especially in Benue and Plateau states.
This is also even as a delegate led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was visiting the United States, where they met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth among others.
To begin the week of inanities, what started like a mere rumour finally ended up as a real story confirming the killing of a senior military officer, Brigadier-General Musa Uba of the 25 Task Force Brigade, with four of his soldiers after an ambush by the Boko Haram terrorists. The general, who led a convoy, was returning from a patrol near Wajiroko village in northeastern Borno, when it came under sustained gunfire, according to the Nigerian Army. Uba was captured alive after what appeared to be an act of betrayed by insiders. He was murdered, and the video released in the media space.
The killing of Uba brought to five the number of senior military officers, who have fallen of the almost 16 years battle with insurgents in the North.
Recall that Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali, the Command of the 272 Task Force Battalion, specializing in the operation of war tanks, was killed in November 2016 in the heat of battle. He was noted for daredevil bravery, which helped in the recapture of Baga from the terrorists. Ali’s death ce just one year after his promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Sakaba, who commanded 157 Task Force Battalion, Metele, was the next. He was killed November 2018. His wife however, alleged that he was killed by fellow soldiers, who accused him of not joining them in corrupt practices. The army denied the allegation.
There was also the killing in September 2020 by Boko Haram terrorists through ambush of Colonel Dahiru Chiroma Bako near Wajiroko town
Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu was killed in November 2021. He was the first general before Uba, to fall to the bullets of the insurgents.
The killings of these senior officers have one recurring decimal; they were all killed in November except for Colonel Chiroma.
A day after, bandits attacked Fegin Baza village in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing three persons and abducting at least, 64 others.
The day following, bandits also launched a fresh assault on Tsohuwar Tasha village in the Ruwan Doruwa Ward of Maru Local Government, abducting 14 people, including 11 women and three children. This is not including reported skirmishes in past weeks communities in Zurmi, Shinkafi, Maradun, Tsafe and Bungudu LGAs of Zamfara, leading to displacement and the imposition of levies and ransoms by armed groups.
A day later, in the early hours of a Monday, armed men stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, abducting 25 female students, the principal, killing the vice principal and injuring the security guard.
The Kebbi Police Command, in a statement, confirmed the incident, noting that police tactical units deployed within the school engaged the attackers but the gunmen escaped with the abducted students.
The police said additional tactical teams, in collaboration with the military and vigilantes, have been deployed to comb suspected bandit routes and nearby forests in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
“On November 17, 2025, at about 0400hrs, a gang of armed bandits with sophisticated weapons stormed the school, shooting sporadically.
“The police tactical units engaged them in a gun duel, but the bandits had already scaled the fence and abducted 25 students. One Hassan Makuku was shot dead, while Ali Shehu sustained an injury to his right hand, “ the statement partly read.
But the governor of the state however lamented that the military withdrew from the scene 44 minutes before the attack, raising concerns that someone prearranged the abduction of the students, creating more more room for suspicion of complicity of the security agencies.
As usual, the Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the abduction of the female students from Government Girls Secondary School, vowing to ensure their safe return.
Two days after the Kebbi incident, at least 16 vigilante members were killed and 42 residents kidnapped in seperate attacks by bandits in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Speaking for the federal government, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, condemned the attack on the school, describing it as “reprehensible” and decried the killing of school officials who were carrying out their duties.
He added, “Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
“The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved.
“We assure Nigerians that strengthening internal security remains a top priority. The Federal Government is recalibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities to more effectively prevent these attacks and respond with greater speed and precision whenever threats arise.”
As if Nigerians have not had a enough, Gunmen kidnapped 38 worshippers of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, during a live service. The terrorists demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper, according to information from a church official, reported by Reuters.
Reports say that about five persons were also shot dead, while several of the worshippers were injured in the tragic incident. The kidnappers are contacting the individuals’ families to demand ransom.
It was also reported during the week that suspected Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) members attacked a Police formation in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing one officer and setting operation vans on fire among other atrocities.
Also within the period under review, suspected members of Boko Haram insurgents killed eight people during an attack in Warabe, a village in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and abducted three. It was reported that the victims were members of the Civilian Task Force. In the same vein, 15 persons were abducted, including 4 nursing mothers and babies, and two killed in Sabon Birni, Sokoto state by same Islamist terrorists., who in another development killed four rice farmers in an attack in Edu, Kwara State.
To cap up the week of blood and tears, and just four days of the Kebbi school attack, heavily armed terrorists invaded the Saint Mary’s Private School, in Papiri, Niger State, a Catholic institution comprising nursery, primary and secondary sections, and abducted a total of 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted. Earlier reports say 52 pupils were taken. The number was updated to 215 before finally arriving at 315.
The tally was changed “after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out,” according to a statement issued by the Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of CAN, who visited the school on Friday.
He said 88 other students “were also captured after they tried to escape” during the attack. The students were both male and female and ranged in age from 10 to 18, according to a report by CNN.
CNN also reported that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the abductions just as authorities have deployed tactical squads alongside local hunters to rescue the children.
The Niger State government had blamed the school for the attack, saying that an advisory was issued for the closure of schools, which the school disobeyed.
But Yohanna dismissed the claim as false, noting that “We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame,” he said, calling on families “to remain calm and prayerful.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State government has now shut down all schools as a measure to forestall other kidnappings.
According to Gov Umar Bago while addressing the media during a meeting with security stakeholders, the decision was in a bid to protect lives and property.
“It is the decision of stakeholders today to close all schools in Niger state. All schools are closed till further notice. So we have declared Christmas holiday for all schools in Niger State,” the governor said.
In the meantime, report says about 50 of the abducted Catholic students have escaped, and returned home safely.
This is contained in a statement on Sunday by the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the Proprietor of the school and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, and issued by his Media Aide, Daniel Atori in Minna.
President Bola Tinubu has also promised to decisively dealt with insurgents, and bring peace to the north, and the nation at large.
In another development, Justice James Omotosho sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who he labeled an ‘international terrorist’ to live in jail.
The nation awaits the response of the Nigerian government to the myriad of security challenges, plaguing the country, the designation of the country as CPC and the threat of Trump to invade the country with ‘guns blazing’.
It would also be taken into consideration that the US Congress, who accused Tinubu of ‘sitting back’ and doing nothing, has unanimously voted to grant Trump powers to attend to the Nigerian challenge anyhow he deem fit.
