Here is the latest update on the on Nigeria security and crimes

1.    Diphtheria Outbreak - National Emergency

 

Scale: Worst outbreak in Nigeria’s history. ∼14,000 infected, ∼800 dead since Jan 2026

Epicenter: Kano State - 10,700 cases, 500+ fatalities as of Thursday Ground situation: MSF running 2 clinics in Kano. 10-yr-old girl in ICU at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Patients in glass cubicles due to contagious nature

Spread: Nearly half of Nigeria’s 36 states affected

2.    Oyo State - Oriire Abduction Crisis

Gov Makinde announcement: Confirmed “major security loss” Tuesday amid abduction of school children and teachers in Oriire LGA

Context: Follows Davido’s FIFA World Cup countdown performance Wednesday where he wore jacket with names of over 40 abducted pupils/teachers from Ogbomosho, Oyo. Names in white = still captive, red = killed

Davido’s statement: “They still haven’t been rescued... My country is going through a lot”

3. Kwara State - Electrician Murder

Victim: Mr Olarewaju Afolabi, 60-yr-old electrician, Ilorin

Suspect: Soliu Mujeeb, 21, ex-apprentice arrested by NSCDC

How it happened: June 7 - left to inspect electrical job, didn’t return. Suspect lured him to uncompleted building in Kangile, Kulende area

Motive: Personal grievance after working together. Killed victim, used his phone to demand ₦2m ransom. Family paid ₦120,000

4. Katsina - Ammo Smuggling in conjunction Security Measures

Death sentence: Hauwa’u Mukhtar arrested by DSS with 438 bullets, court sentenced her to death

Ex-army spokesman kidnapped  and eventually killed few days later: Gunmen abducted Rabe Abubakar and his dear wife whereby few days later a viral was released of his death at the camp of the Gunmen. See more

Govt crackdown: Katsina shut POS centers, banned jerrycan fuel sales, restricted motorcycles to curb bandit financing/movement

5. National Banditry/Kidnapping Stats - Last 7 Days

Police security report shows 98 criminal incidents nationwide:

    37 homicides

    27 banditry attacks

    24 kidnappings

    8 armed robberies2 terrorism-related attacks

    2 terrorism-related attacks

Hotspots: Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi

Key cases:

    Zamfara: 39 residents abducted after going to Fadama Forest to negotiate peace with bandit leader Jimo Smally

    Katsina-Kankara highway: Bandits intercepted bus with 11 passengers. 9 rescued, driver and 1 missing

    Niger State: Senator says bandits killed 9, abducted 15 in Shiroro LGA in last 36hrs

6. Kwara North Crisis - Ongoing

    Stakeholders claim: More than 1,200 killed since 2023, 176 residents still captive after 4 months

    Army response: Full brigade deployed to Kwara forests - Oke Ode, Babanla, Ifelodun LGA. Part of Operation Fasan Yanma