On 26 November, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency after armed groups abducted more than 500 people across several northern states since mid-November. Those abducted include over 300 pupils and teachers seized from a Catholic school in Niger state, some of whom later escaped or were released. The wave of kidnappings also prompted the indefinite closure of over 20,468 schools across seven states—forcing millions of children to abandon education. Tinubu ordered a major security recruitment, redeployment of police units and the deployment of forest guards, while urging Parliament to consider using state police. The escalation unfolded amid mounting U.S. pressure: Washington had designated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’. Authorities rejected the claim but intensified engagement with U.S. counterparts. UN officials warned that hundreds remain in captivity and urged decisive action to halt further attacks.

Sources: Premium Times Nigeria, International Crisis Group, Le Monde, United Nations, Amnesty International, Jeune Afrique

In early September, devastating floods in Nigeria’s Maiduguri region claimed hundreds of lives and displaced nearly half a million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed the city’s drainage systems, and the collapse of a dam exacerbated the disaster. Engineers and residents criticized government failures, highlighting inadequate dam maintenance, poor urban planning, and lack of flood mitigation measures. Experts noted that climate change has made extreme weather events more frequent, but poor infrastructure and slow emergency response intensified the impact. The disaster has prompted urgent calls for investment in climate resilience and infrastructure improvements.

Sources: Punch (1), Punch (2), The Africa Report, New York Times

Dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured as security forces violently repressed protests against the soaring cost of living. The demonstrations were sparked by President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies that triggered inflation and surging prices, as inflation rose to a 30-year high of 34 per cent in June. Despite warnings from ruling party members, religious clerics and even opposition leaders, tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets, even in northern states where socio-economic protests are rare. The violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces led to the authorities imposing 24-hour curfews across several states to quell the protests. Journalists covering the events were also targeted, with several reportedly brutalized by security forces, while reports have also emerged of state-sponsored armed groups attacking protesters.

Sources: Africa Confidential, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, X, The Africa Report, International Federation of Journalists

At least 85 (and perhaps as many as 127) civilians were killed in the village of Tudun Biri, in Kaduna state, on 3 December when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the Nigerian army mistakenly attacked the village. The Nigerian army was engaged in operations against terrorists in the area, and operators mistook a village gathering to celebrate the Muslim holiday Mawlid for the movements of a terrorist group. This was the worst incident of its kind since 2017. President Bola Tinubu ordered the incident to be investigated, and the Committee on Defence in the House of Representatives has promised to monitor the investigation. Protestors gathered outside the National Assembly on 6 December, demanding accountability.

Sources: The Guardian (1), The Guardian (2), The Guardian (3), Sahara Reporters, Financial Times