Weekly security report January (5th -11th), 2026
Goldskylines Weekly Security Report
Nigeria & Sub-Saharan Africa
Reporting Period: January ( 5th -11th], 2026
Executive Summary
During the reporting period, Goldskylines monitored and assessed confirmed, high-impact security incidents across Nigeria and selected parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The incidents analyzed involved fatal attacks on civilians, attacks on security forces, and mass-casualty armed violence.
The security environment remains elevated, particularly in rural and forest-adjacent regions, where terrain, limited access, and constrained security presence continue to shape outcomes.
Incidents Covered
1. Borno State — Attack on Security Forces
Date: 5 January 2026
Location: Near Bindundul village, Borno State
Incident: Nigerian military convoy ambushed using a landmine/IED followed by direct fire.
Impact: At least nine soldiers killed, multiple injured.
Assessment:
The attack demonstrates sustained insurgent capability to target military movements in contested terrain.
2. Niger State — Mass-Casualty Civilian Attack
Date: 5–6 January 2026
Location: Kasuwan-Daji, Niger State
Incident: Armed raid on a rural community and market area.
Impact: 30+ civilians killed, several abducted.
Assessment:
Kasuwan-Daji has experienced repeat attacks, indicating persistent armed group freedom of movement.
3. Plateau State — Widespread Rural Armed Violence
Period: Throughout 2025
Locations: Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Mangu LGAs
Incident Type: Armed raids by Fulani militants, shootings, and transport-route attacks.
Impact: Dozens of civilian fatalities across multiple incidents.
Assessment:
Violence in Plateau State is geographically dispersed but patterned, concentrated in rural LGAs rather than urban Jos. The drivers differ from jihadist insurgency and reflect localized Fulani armed group violence enabled by highland terrain and dispersed settlements.
4. Benue State — Attacks on Civilians and Security Personnel
Period: Early January 2026
Locations: Kwande and surrounding rural communities
Incident Type: Armed attacks on farmers and security personnel.
Impact: Multiple fatalities, including security operatives.
Assessment:
Benue State continues to experience lethal rural violence linked to armed Fulani militant activity in farming communities. Attacks are opportunistic but recurring, reflecting persistent insecurity in north-central Nigeria.
Cross-Cutting Patterns Observed
Rural concentration of violence: Most fatal incidents occurred outside major urban centers.
Terrain as a key enabler: Forested, highland, and poorly connected areas repeatedly feature in attacks.
Repeat targeting: Several locations experienced multiple incidents over time, indicating sustained vulnerability.
Diverse threat actors:
Northeast: insurgent attacks on security forces
North-Central: Fulani militant armed violence
Analytical Assessment
The incidents reviewed point to a structural security challenge rather than isolated events. Geography, access constraints, and limited persistent security presence continue to shape the operational environment across multiple regions. Armed actors exploit predictable terrain and response gaps, resulting in recurring civilian harm and pressure on security forces.
Effective mitigation will require not only reactive operations but improved area control, early warning, and rural security coverage, particularly in terrain-challenged zones.
Outlook (Next Reporting Period)
Continued monitoring of north-central Nigeria, where armed violence remains fluid.
Close observation of northeastern Nigeria, especially convoy and route security incidents.
Expansion of coverage to include select Sub-Saharan Africa hotspots, including eastern DRC, where militant violence remains persistent.