GNV News February 18, 2026

On February 3, 2026, an armed group attacked Woro in Kwara State in western Nigeria, and at least 170 people were killed. Houses and shops were set on fire, and many women and children were abducted. Surviving local residents claim the attackers were religious hardliners. On the same day, in Doma in Katsina State in the north, at least 21 people were killed by an armed group. In September 2025, the people of Doma had concluded an agreement with a local armed group on land use and peace, but that agreement was broken. In addition, on February 14, three villages in Niger State in the west were attacked, and at least 46 people were killed. Of the three villages attacked, one is believed to have been attacked by bandits, but details of the attacks on the other villages are still unknown.

Across Nigeria, particularly in the north, violence driven by various factors is occurring frequently. According to a report on violence in Nigeria by Nextier Advisory, at least 4,654 people were killed and 3,141 people were abducted in 2025. Behind this situation lies the presence of criminal organizations, religious hardliners, land-use conflicts, separatist movements, and others. In addition to the original sources of conflict, political instability in neighboring West African countries [Japanese] and the influx of small arms are said to be fueling the escalation of violence. The report states that in 2026, with general elections scheduled for the following year, 2027, political tensions will rise and security could deteriorate even further.

Learn more about Nigeria → “Biafra’s Unfinished Dream?”

Learn about Nigeria’s neighboring region → “West Africa: Why Are Coups Occurring So Frequently?”

View of a market in Offa, Kwara State (Photo: James Rhoda / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 4.0])