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| - A Nigerian influencer and social commentator, Isaac Fayose, has claimed that there have been no cases of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria adding that kidnapping has reduced in the last six months under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in the country.
He made the claim in a video he posted on his Instagram account, @isaacfayoseoriginal_ on February 11, 2025.
Part of the video transcribed below read:
“Six months now, Boko Haram never strike. Six months, kidnapping has reduced. We had Christmas without bad video to share. President Tinubu has done well with security. Oluyide, Chief of Army Staff has done well; Egbetokun, Police you have done well; Civil defence you have done well; road safety has done well. God bless all of you.”
CLAIM 1
There is no case of Boko Haram insurgency in the last six months in Nigeria.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Boko Haram, officially designated as a terrorist organization by Nigeria and the United States, among other national governments, has been responsible for a prolonged insurgency in Nigeria, particularly in the northeastern region. The group, which emerged in the early 2000s, gained notoriety for its violent attacks on civilians, security forces, and government infrastructure. It has been responsible for thousands of deaths and mass displacement, with millions of people forced to flee their homes over the years.
Despite sustained military operations against the group, Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to carry out attacks. Over the past six months, multiple reports have confirmed incidents of insurgent activities, including deadly ambushes on security convoys, attacks on villages, destruction of homes and places of worship, and mass killings of civilians, particularly in Borno, Yobe, and Niger states.
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For instance, on September 2, 2024, some gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mafa village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, resulting in the deaths of unaccounted number of villagers. The assailants looted and set ablaze homes, businesses, and places of worship.
On November 2024, a team of 80 security operatives was ambushed by about 200 Boko Haram fighters in Shiroro, Niger State. At least seven members of the Nigerian government protection agency were declared missing while at least 50 insurgents died following the clash.
On January 4, 2025, Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists attacked a Forward Operating Base in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. The assault led to the deaths of some Nigerian soldiers, with many declared missing then, and the destruction of military vehicles and infrastructure.
On January 14, 2025, the Shikarkir community in Chibok Local Government Area, Borno State, was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents. The assailants burnt a church and ten houses, marking the second of such incident in the area within a week.
On January 16, 2025, Nigerian troops conducted operations in Borno State, resulting in the deaths of 76 militants from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These actions were in response to a surge in militant attacks, including the killing of at least 40 farmers in the Dumba community.
THE VERDICT
The claim that there was no Boko Haram attacks in the last six months in Nigeria is FALSE; multiple media reports confirmed insurgent activities, with significant casualties and destruction recorded in various parts of Nigeria between September 2024 and January 2025.
CLAIM 2
There has been a reduction in kidnapping incidents in the last six months in Nigeria.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s most pervasive security challenges, affecting people across different regions, from the northern regions to the southwest and southeast regions. Criminal gangs and kidnappers target civilians, commuters, government officials, and even law enforcement agents.
According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), households paid ₦2.23 trillion ($1.48 billion – using N1504 CBN rate) in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The NBS’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey reported 51.89 million crime incidents during this period, with the Northwest recording the highest cases. Data from SBM Intelligence shows that since 2019, Nigeria has witnessed 735 mass abductions till date. Between July 2022 and June 2023 alone, 3,620 people were abducted in 582 cases, with about ₦5 billion ($3.3 million) paid in ransom within the period.
Contrary to the claim of a decline in kidnappings in Nigeria, data indicate a consistent rise in abductions across the country.
According to data collated from media reports by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, (BSIL), a Nigerian-owned security risk management and intelligence consulting company based in Abuja, the number of kidnapped people in Nigeria in the second half of 2024 (July – December) is 5,537 across 191 LGAs. This is higher by 33.6% compared to 4,143 persons kidnapped in the first half of 2024 across 195 LGAs (January – June).
In addition, a total of 743 persons were abducted across 74 LGAs in the country between January 1, 2025 and February 13, 2025. Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna and Katsina lead the states with the highest number of kidnapping incidents within the period.
On January 7, 2025, two Catholic reverend sisters, Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, were kidnapped along Ufuma road in Orumba, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. Similarly, a Sokoto State Community Guard Corps operative reportedly lost his life due to an accidental discharge shortly after participating in a joint operation that rescued 66 kidnap victims in the state on January 8. The operation, led by the Nigerian Army, was conducted in Tidibali Forest, located in the eastern part of the state.
The Bauchi State Police Command rescued three children kidnapped in Bauchi in Northeastern region but was sold in Anambra State, South-East on January 9, 2025. In Enugu, tension gripped the Enugu-Ezike community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following the reported abduction of over 33 passengers, including three soldiers, by suspected herdsmen same day.
On January 10, 2025, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Ikechukwu Okeke, was kidnapped at his Amaokpala community in Orumba North Local Government Area of the Anambra State. He was abducted while returning home from the funeral service of his cousin.
On January 13, 2025, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command declared one operative missing and two injured during a gun duel with suspected sea pirates dressed in military camouflage along the Oron-Calabar waterways corridor.
On January 14, 2025, terrorists raided the Kankara General Hospital in Katsina State, abducting five persons and leaving a medical doctor with a gunshot injury.
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In addition, armed men kidnapped Adekunle Raphael Ola, who hails from Ijumu Local Government Area Kogi State, on January 15, 2025 around 8pm local time at his residence in Iyara. According to the victim, who was rescued six days later, about seven AK47 armed kidnappers stormed his compound and forcefully entered his house, beat him and his wife, requested money, and subsequently took him away.
On January 17, 2025, the wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu was kidnapped from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. This was followed by the kidnapping of no fewer than 16 persons by hoodlums in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on January 20, 2025.
THE VERDICT
The claim that kidnapping has reduced in the last six months in Nigeria is FALSE. Reports indicate a steady rise in abduction cases across different parts of Nigeria, with both high-profile and mass kidnappings occurring frequently.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
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