Understanding Nigeria's Security Crisis: Gangs, Jihadists, and Separatists

Sun Nov 30 2025 00:32:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Explore the complex landscape of insecurity in Nigeria, where kidnap gangs, jihadist factions, and separatist movements contribute to national turmoil. This article dissects the various armed groups involved and their impacts on local populations.

Nigeria faces an alarming security crisis marked by mass abductions and violence from multiple armed groups including kidnap gangs predominantly located in the northwest, the infamous Boko Haram jihadists, and emerging separatist movements in the southeast. With 250 ethnic groups and a militarily overstretched security force, the situation challenges the nation's unity and threatens the safety of millions. Understanding these dynamics is essential for grasping the full scope of Nigeria's ongoing struggles.

Nigeria is currently grappling with a spate of mass abductions. But the vast country - bigger than France and Germany combined - also faces many other security challenges.

Recent attempts by US President Donald Trump and his supporters to frame the insecurity purely as the persecution of Christians overlooks the complexity of Africa's most populous nation.

There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, which is roughly divided into a mainly Muslim north, a largely Christian south, with intermingling in the middle - and the government says people of all faiths have been victims of attacks.

There are criminal gangs in the north-west, an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, clashes over land in central regions, and separatist unrest in the south-east - leaving the 400,000-strong army and the police force of 370,000 officers overstretched.

Here's a breakdown of the main armed groups and flashpoints:

'Bandits' - Kidnap Gangs

These criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, are largely composed of people from the Fulani ethnic group, who have traded their pastoral tools for assault rifles. The gangs typically move in large numbers on motorcycles, allowing them to strike quickly and escape before security forces can respond.

Motivated primarily by financial gain rather than ideology, they have become notorious for kidnapping and demanding ransoms. Whether attacking local communities or traveling to neighboring states, they play a key role in Nigeria's insecurity.

Boko Haram - Jihadist Group

This notorious Islamist militant group gained global attention by kidnapping schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014 and has evolved from a local sect to a serious threat. While Boko Haram has splintered over time, it continues to target civilians and security forces, often using abductions as a means to generate revenue.

Iswap and Ansaru - Boko Haram Splinter Groups

Iswap focuses primarily on military targets and avoids civilian casualties, while Ansaru is known for their operations outside the northeastern stronghold of Boko Haram, including high-profile train hijackings.

Resource Conflicts: Herders vs Farmers

This long-standing conflict primarily revolves around access to grazing land, exacerbated by population growth and climate change. Clashes between the predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and mostly Christian farmers have led to escalating violence and insecurity.

Separatist Movements: IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) advocate for the independence of the southeast, carrying the legacy of past civil struggles. Implicated in violence against state forces and marked by the recent convocation of their leader on terrorism charges, this group continues to be a prominent actor in the ongoing crisis.