Nigeria Security Report: April 2026 — Persistent Attacks with Slight Stabilization
April 2026 showed continued nationwide insecurity, but with slightly fewer mass-casualty events compared to Q1 peaks. Violence remained frequent, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions, while insurgent activity persisted in the Northeast.
Headline Overview
| Indicator | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | Change |
|---|
| Major Incidents | 11 | ~10 | ↓ |
| Estimated Deaths | ~250+ | ~220+ | ↓ |
| Mass Casualty Events | 3 | 2 | ↓ |
| Kidnappings | 3+ | 3+ | ↔ |
Key takeaway: Slight drop in intensity, but no structural improvement — attacks remain consistent.
Attack Breakdown
| Type | Count | Impact |
|---|
| Village raids | 3–4 | ~120+ deaths |
| Kidnappings | 3 | ~70+ abducted |
| Insurgent attacks | 3 | ~50+ deaths |
| Bombings / IED | 1–2 | ~20+ deaths |
| Clashes | 1 | ~30 deaths |
Key takeaway: Fatalities declined slightly, but attack patterns remain unchanged.
Monthly Incident Summary
| Date | Location | Type | Casualties | Notes |
|---|
| Apr 2 | Zamfara | Village raid | ~35 killed | Continued bandit attacks |
| Apr 5 | Borno | Insurgent ambush | ~20 soldiers killed | Boko Haram activity |
| Apr 7 | Kaduna | Kidnapping | 3 killed; ~25 abducted | Night raid |
| Apr 10 | Plateau | Communal clashes | ~30 killed | Local tensions escalated |
| Apr 13–14 | Niger | Village raids | ~40 killed | Multiple communities attacked |
| Apr 16 | Borno | IED explosion | ~12 killed | Roadside bomb |
| Apr 18 | Kebbi | Armed attack | ~10 killed | Highway assault |
| Apr 21 | Zamfara | Kidnapping raid | 2 killed; ~30 abducted | Ransom-driven |
| Apr 25 | Borno | Insurgent attack | ~18 killed | Islamic State West Africa Province suspected |
| Apr 28–29 | Multiple NW states | Coordinated raids | ~60+ killed | Cross-state bandit operations |
Bottom Line
Slight decline in deaths, but violence still widespread
Kidnapping remains consistent and profitable
Boko Haram / Islamic State West Africa Province still active in the Northeast
Nigeria remains in a steady-state security crisis, not recovery
Expect continued similar patterns into May
