Fresh attacks in Ondo and Kebbi States have underscored Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, as a traditional ruler and dozens of worshippers were killed in separate incidents.
Gunmen on Wednesday night, February 18, 2026, invaded Ahungha Village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing the traditional ruler, Oba Kehinde Jacob Faledun. The attackers reportedly stormed the palace in an attempt to abduct the monarch, but shot him dead when he resisted. Hours later, in a separate incident in Kebbi State, 34 Muslim worshippers were massacred, barely two days into Ramadan, highlighting the growing wave of violence across the country.
The latest attacks add to a troubling pattern of insecurity stretching across several states, from Borno and Zamfara to Niger, Yobe, Kwara and Edo. Communities once known for peaceful livelihoods have increasingly become theatres of violence, marked by kidnappings, highway attacks and mass casualties. Security agencies continue to battle armed groups across multiple fronts, as concerns mount over the proliferation of weapons and the persistence of insurgent and criminal networks.
A governor from one of the affected states, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged the scale of the challenge and called for broader collaboration. “We need more support. Our military are working tirelessly, but they are engaged on multiple fronts. These groups are growing in numbers, and where or how they access weapons remains troubling. If this has been going on for 15 years without decisive improvement, it means the problem is bigger than any one institution,” he said. He added: “It has become a lucrative trade. Kidnappers and terrorists now prey on vulnerable communities, forcing them to pay ransoms. No one should hesitate to seek collaboration when the challenge is overwhelming.”
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