Nigerian govment don declare state of emergency and order strong military response following di kidnapping of ova 500 pipo inside one week.

Criminal gangs wey dey known as bandits bin carry out wave of attacks since mid-November across di north-west and central regions.

Di largest attack by di number of victims bin happun on 21 November, wia dem kidnap more dan 300 children and teachers from St Mary's Catholic schools for Agwara district of di north-central Niger State. At least 50 victims escape, while odas still dey miss.

Di attack happun four days afta bandits kidnap 25 school girls and kill some school officials from Government Girls Secondary School for Danko Wasagu for di north-western Kebbi State. One student escape, while dem release 24 on 25 November, for di middle of claims say di govment negotiate wit di criminals.

Local media bin report say one gang bin claim responsibility for di 17 and 21 November school abductions, dem also threaten attacks against sojas and politicians.

On 23 November, security forces rescue 38 people wey bandits kidnap from di Christ Apostolic Church for Ekuru, Kwara State, north-central Nigeria on 18 November.

However, more attacks don happun wey include at least 36 pipo for Niger on 26 November and abductions of scores for Sokoto and Kogi states on 30 November.

Di abductions come for di middle of President Donald Trump allegations say Christians dey face persecution for Nigeria, one claim wey prompt am to designate di West African nation as a "country of particular concern" for di violation of religious freedoms.

On 1 November, Trump bin warn say US ready to take military action to protect Christians for Nigeria.

Di Nigerian govment tok say di violence dey affect both Muslims and Christians and don repeatedly reject di narrative.

Who be di 'bandits'?

Organised arms groups bin start around 2011, and don spread across di north-western states of Zamfara Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger.

These "bandit" groups bin operate from ungoverned forests for di region. Dem dey engage in cattle rustling, robberies, kidnappings for ransom, rape, looting and killings of residents. For some areas, dem dey tax residents.

Trade of small arms and light weapons for di region, especially from di neighbouring Sahel also dey ginger dia activities.

"Bandits" primarily dey try to enrich demsefs, dem no dey try push any political or ideological agenda. Dem dey operate without central leadership but dem get notable leaders wey local media dey describe as "kingpins".

Prominent gang leaders include Dogo Gide and Ado Aleru, wey bin operate from Zamfara. Anoda one na Bello Turji, wey im activities dey reported for Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states.

Di govment proscribe bandits as terrorists for January 2022. Dem put dem for di same category as Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), wey dey operate for di Lake Chad basin.

In recent years, plenty reports don dey on how "bandits" dey collabo wit jihadists or adopt jihadist ideology and slogans.

Di govment dey primarily use military methods to tackle di gangs, dem set up camps for di region, conduct air and ground operations and arrest suspected gang members.

Di operations don cause di groups to scata, some don move go west into Kwara State and odas don go south to Kogi and Plateau states.

State govments don support di military operations but dem also don hold peace talks wit gang leaders to stem di violence wey don kill thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Trump pronouncements dey behind di surge in kidnappings?

Di recent surge in kidnappings dey come for di middle of Trump threat to send di military to Nigeria to fight wetin e describe as genocide against Christians, but di attacks no directly dey linked to di pronouncements.

Nigeria previously don witness waves of kidnappings, most notably start for December 2020. For June 2021, gunmen bin attack di Federal Government College for Birnin Yauri for Kebbi and abduct at least 90 students and five teachers.

Local media report say at least 1,000 students don dey abducted by June 2021 afta one increase in attacks on learning institutions.

However, di media and senior govment officials don link di recent attacks to Trump remarks and military threat against Nigeria.

On 17 November, George Akume, secretary to di federal government, tok say US leader remarks in part dey behind di increased attacks by gunmen.

"Recent pronouncements from don US somehow don encourage opportunistic violent groups wey wan exploit international narratives and make bold statements by attacking soft targets," e tok.

Although di church attack for Kwara and di school abductions for Niger fit dey interpreted as religiously motivated, "bandits" dey often target large gatherings and schools sake of di huge ransom payouts wey fit help finance dia operations.

Local media tok say dem dey target students bicos parents fit easily pay ransoms, while churches in di past don arrange funds for abducted members.

Govment dey pay kidnappers ransom?

Nigeria ban ransom payments to criminal gangs for April 2022 and compulsory 15-year jail term for offenders, but media reports of prosecutions dey very low.

One prominent case na dat of controversial preacher and hostage negotiator Tukur Mamu, wey govment try for terrorism, dem say e allegedly collect and deliver $200,000 in ransom for di release of 60 wey dem kidnap from one train wey dey go Kaduna for March 2022.

Federal and state govments don chop accuse of negotiating wit criminal gangs for di release of hostages, but dem don deny say dem dey pay ransoms.

However, kidnappers dey most time flaunt on social media money wey families of dia victims pay dem for dia release.

Following di release of di 24 schoolgirls bandits kidnap for Kebbi, one video bin spread online wey show one gunman wey to say dem free di abductees afta negotiations.

Kidnappers bin also demand $68,000 ransom for each of di 38 pipo dem take from di Kwara church.

Di state govment bin thank security operatives for rescuing di victims but dem no make mention on ransom payment.

Which measures govment don take?

Tinubu bin declare nationwide security emergency on 26 November and order di he recruitment of more military personnel and 20,000 police officers.

E say dem go withdraw officers from VIP security duties and train dem for deployment to areas wey dey prone to insecurity.

Tinubu don also approve di establishment of one US-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG) on insecurity.

In addition, Nigerian and US officials don tok about enhancing cooperation in security and peacebuilding for northern and central regions.

On 22 November, di US bin offer to help investigate di school kidnappings wit intelligence and expedite defence equipment request from Nigeria.

On 26 November, Nigerian senators bin vote on one firearms law wey fit allow civilians to bear arms for enhanced self-protection. Police stop to dey issue small-arms licences for August 2023 sake of di proliferation of illegal weapons.

Di senators also pass one resolution to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism and amend di Terrorism Act to impose di death penalty for di offence.

Di president don order a review of laws wey go establish state police units and don ask di local administrations to reconsider opening boarding schools for remote areas.