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Nigeria’s government says that jihadist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province are behind a new wave of kidnappings in the north-west and central parts of the country, but some experts on African politics disagree.
They say these crimes were carried out by local criminal gangs known as “bandits”.
This is the first time the government has named who it believes is responsible, but it has not shared any evidence.
Kidnap-for-ransom has become a major business in some parts of Nigeria. Different groups are involved, including kidnap gangs, jihadists and separatists. The government says it does not pay ransoms, even though many people believe the ban is often ignored.
In the past two weeks there have been three major kidnappings:
On 17 November, gunmen attacked a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi state. Two people were killed and 25 taken, including a teacher. All were later freed.
On 18 November, attackers stormed a church in Kwara state. Two people were killed and 38 kidnapped. All have since been released.
On 21 November, more than 250 pupils and 12 staff were reportedly taken from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, though officials question the exact numbers.
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare would not say whether money was paid to free the few abductees who were recently rescued. He only said that a mix of “kinetic, non-kinetic, negotiations, etc” had worked.
When asked who was behind the attacks, he claimed that “Iswap are all over the place” and that “whatever is left of Boko Haram” is involved.
Boko Haram has been fighting in north-eastern Nigeria for more than ten years. Iswap split from Boko Haram and is also active in the north-east.
But analyst Bulama Bukarti told the BBC that this government claim is wrong. He said there are no Boko Haram or Iswap cells in the north-west. He believes the recent kidnappings were done by bandits. These are loosely organised local groups that often travel on motorbikes. Boko Haram and Iswap mainly operate hundreds of miles away in the north-east.
The BBC also asked Acled, an international group that studies armed violence, to examine the three kidnappings. Acled said all three were carried out by Fulani militia groups, known locally as bandits. Fulani herders have clashed with both Muslim and Christian groups across the country.
Acled said the largest kidnapping, at St Mary’s Catholic School, seemed partly aimed at embarrassing the government and pushing political goals. It said the church attack in Kwara state was linked to “Fulani expansionist drive” and an effort to force locals out for illegal mining. It noted that pushing communities out for mining has become a pattern in Zamfara state and the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state.
Shortly after these events in the north-west and centre, 13 teenage girls were abducted in Borno state in the north-east. Analysts agree this case was likely carried out by jihadists, since this is Boko Haram’s home region.
Nigeria’s security problems have gained international attention after US President Donald Trump said he would send troops “guns a-blazing” if Nigeria “continues to allow the killing of Christians”. Nigerian officials and analysts say people of all faiths are victims. They say it is not true that Christians are being singled out.
Source: BBC
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