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ABUJA —Many Nigerian citizens and security experts are raising concerns that the country may be overturn by terrorists after some 200 gunmen Saturday invaded an airport in Kaduna State and killed an official. The attack followed days of violent raids in the state with dozens of people killed.
Saturday's attack was the latest in a spate of violence that has hit the northwestern Nigerian state for days.
Federal airport authorities said the armed terrorists invaded 'runway five' of the airport from a nearby forest and opened fire, killing one official and causing flight delays.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the military deployed to the airport immediately to repel the attack before it escalated.
Armed gangs have been terrorizing the state for years. In the last few weeks, dozens of people were reported killed in series of attacks on local communities southward of the state where sectarian violence has persisted.
Jakes Tudu, an activist from southern Kaduna, says the recent development is worrying.
"I'm scared because it is actually overwhelming. These guys are actually doing the unimaginable, like things you could not believe or imagine," Tudu said. "Coming out in broad daylight to attack the airport is really crazy and scary."
Saturday's attack also occurred as Nigerian President and top officials of his ruling political party, All Progressive Congress (APC) hosted thousands of people in Abuja to mark the party's conference ahead of next year's polls, sparking criticism.
The critics say the attacks highlighted major failures on election promises made to Nigerians.
"Being a state that has the Nigerian defense academy, we have the police college, name it, Kaduna used to be a fortified ground," Tudu said. "But now today we have these guys moving around in Kaduna kidnapping people."
In 2015, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to address security concerns and boost the country's economy.
But authorities have been struggling to curb frequent attacks by armed gangs who rose to prominence for the mass kidnappings of students and the killings of local residents since late 2020.
Authorities say the military operations against gangs have been successful and that hundreds have been killed in recent months - the latest being the killing of more than 200 armed gangs, known locally as 'bandits' in central Niger state earlier this month.
But security analyst Senator Iroegbu says while the military appears to be making some progress there's still reason to be worried.
"Government's claim to be winning the war I'm sure it's a way of motivation," Iroegbu said. "Yes there's some progress but evidence like this shows that the war has not been won."