Owo Church Massacre, Kuje Prison Attack, Kaduna Train Attack – Major Terrorist Attacks Of 2022

The 2022 was one of the years that the Nigerian Government and its citizens will not forget in a hurry following the series of terrorist attacks across the country.

Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), bandits, and killer herdsmen have been behind the various attacks from the Northern parts of the country to the Southern region.

Therefore, Naija News takes a look at some major terrorist attacks that dominated the outgoing year as we anticipate a new dawn in the year 2023.

Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack

Nigeria was thrown into pandemonium on March 28 when Boko Haram terrorists ambushed an Abuja-Kaduna train along the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna, a few minutes away from its final stop.

Several persons were killed, injured, and over 60 others were abducted. Among those killed was a female medical doctor with St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna, Chinelo Megafu, Naija News recalls.

A former Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, was part of the 16 persons who suffered injuries during the attack. Weeks in and weeks out, the passengers were released in batches after ransom payments and frantic efforts of the security men across agencies.

It could be recalled that the last batch of the train victims was released in October, while the Abuja-Kaduna train service resumed operations in December after a series of assessments by the government.

Owo Church Attack

Religious centers also experienced terrorist attacks in 2022, with many Nigerians seeing the invasion of churches and mosques as an unusual occurrence.

One of the most brutal attacks on worship centers was the invasion of St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo Local Government Area of the state in June.

Over 40 persons were killed and over 74 persons were injured in the church attack, while five suspects were arrested over the incident. Nothing has been heard since regarding the prosecution of the suspects.

Kuje Prison Attack

Although it wasn’t the only jailbreak in 2022, the July 5 attack on the Kuje correctional facility in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) resulted in the escape of over 500 inmates, including Boko Haram members.

Naija News gathered that the attack on the Kuje correctional facility is arguably Nigeria’s biggest incident of that nature to date.

An operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and four inmates were killed, while the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Presidential Guard Soldiers Attack

On July 25, Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops of the Guards Brigade responsible for the protection of President Muhammadu Buhari and other top government officials.

The terrorists attacked the soldiers of the 7 Guards Battalion who were on routine patrol along Kubwa – Bwari road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The insurgents were said to be headed to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari when they ran into the troops, leading to the exchange of gunfire.

Three soldiers were injured during the attack and were evacuated to the hospital for treatment. Also, the terrorists were successfully repelled.

Also on June 29, terrorists launched another daring attack against the troops of the Guards Brigade around the Zuma Rock, Madalla area of the FCT.

Abduction Of Five Zamfara College Students

In April, bandit terrorists kidnapped five students of the College of Health Technology in Tsafe town, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The gunmen invaded the town on motorbikes and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away residents.

The terrorists then proceeded to kidnap the students from their hostels outside the school campus to an unknown destination. However, one of the students escaped from the terrorists.

Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Highway Attack

Bandit terrorists, in June, launched a daring attack on the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway in Kaduna State, kidnapping many victims and setting several buses ablaze.

It was gathered that the attack took place without hindrance from security forces which allowed the bandit terrorists to take their victims into the forest.

Eight buses were set ablaze by the terrorists while they took away an unverified number of travelers, majorly children and females.

Zamfara Mosque Attack

In September, bandit terrorists killed at least 15 worshippers at a mosque in Ruwan Jema town in Bukkuyun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The terrorists were said to have opened fire on the worshipers after invading the town on motorcycles, while many worshippers were said to have sustained injuries during the attack on the mosque.

Borno Mosque Attack

In September, Boko Haram terrorists attacked a mosque in the Ngulde community of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing the Chief Imam and three other worshipers. Many people were also injured in the attack.

According to reports, the Boko Haram terrorists, numbering about 20, launched the attack early by opening fire on worshippers who had finished their Fajir prayers at the Mosque.

The terrorists also looted livestock and foodstuff and set ablaze two vehicles in the Ngulde community, which is located in some part of the Sambisa forest in the state.

Plateau Communities Attacks

In April, bandit terrorists attacked several communities in Plateau State, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the state and the country in general.

The terrorists invaded the villages of Kukawa, Gyanbahu, Dungur, and Kanam where over 100 people were killed and many others injured. The criminals also set over 100 houses ablaze and destroyed the telecom mast to make it difficult for the people to call for help.

Meanwhile, it was not all gloom for Nigeria as the Nigerian military recorded wins in the fight against banditry in the North West and insurgency in the North East.