A man claiming to be a militant commander has released a new video threatening further kidnappings across Nigeria. Wearing what looked like a military jacket, he boasted about recent abductions of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger states and warned that his group plans to target security officials, governors, and even President Bola Tinubu.
In the video, he said his group was not bothered by recent arrests, adding that the government had failed in its duty to protect citizens. He pointed to the jacket he wore, insisting it belonged to a Nigerian soldier, and declared that more high-profile abductions would follow.
He urged Nigerians to rely on divine protection rather than the government, claiming that authorities cannot guarantee safety. He ended the recording with a message to his followers on social media, saying they had “woken up” and wishing them a good day.
The latest threat comes shortly after two major school abductions. On November 21, armed men invaded St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara, Niger State, taking away dozens of students and teachers. Community members who visited the school after the attack described it as a well-coordinated operation carried out between 2am and 3am.
Local officials later confirmed the incident, saying early information suggested that more than 100 students and teachers were abducted from the mixed-gender school.
Just days earlier, another group of armed men attacked Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State. About 25 female students were taken, a staff member lost his life during the incident, and another guard was injured. The attackers stormed the school at dawn, firing shots as students prepared for their morning routines.
These back-to-back school invasions have sparked renewed fear among families and communities, who are calling for stronger protection measures to keep children safe.