Nigeria's Kogi West hit by deadly bandit attacks and rising insecurity

In Kogi West, Nigeria, bandits shot and killed Pastor Ranti Ige, 67, in November 2023 while he was traveling from Lagos to Isanlu for a funeral. The attackers also kidnapped other occupants and demanded ransom. This incident highlights a surge in bandit attacks and kidnappings across the region.

The violence is part of a broader escalation of insecurity in Nigeria, with various armed groups—including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Al‑Qaeda‑linked Ansaru network, and remnants of Boko Haram—operating in different parts of the country. Analysts note that while Boko Haram remains largely confined to Borno state, new terrorist franchises have emerged, blurring the lines between banditry, insurgency, and terrorism.

The worsening security situation has shifted public fear from traditional robbery and road accidents to a pervasive anxiety about ambushes and kidnappings on Nigerian highways, especially in the central and north‑western zones.