Nigeria is currently grappling with a spate of mass abductions. But the vast country - bigger than France and Germany combined - also faces many other security challenges.

Recent attempts by US President Donald Trump and his supporters to frame the insecurity purely as the persecution of Christians overlooks the complexity of Africa's most-populous nation.

There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, which is roughly divided into a mainly Muslim north, a largely Christian south, with intermingling in the middle - and the government says people of all faiths have been victims of attacks.

There are criminal gangs in the north-west, an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, clashes over land in central regions and separatist unrest in the south-east - leaving the 400,000-strong army and the police force of 370,000 officers overstretched.

Here's a breakdown of the main armed groups and flashpoints:

'Bandits' - kidnap gangs

These criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, are largely composed of people from the Fulani ethnic group, who traditionally make their living by raising animals. They have traded their pastoral tools for assault rifles, which have flooded Nigeria - and other states in the region - since Libya descended into anarchy.

The gangs are not known to be motivated by any religious or political ideology but see kidnapping people for ransom as a quick and easy way to make money rather than walking for miles with their livestock in search of water and grazing land.

They typically move in large numbers on motorcycles, which makes them highly mobile and allows them to strike quickly and escape before the security forces can respond - a tactic used during two recent school abductions.

There is no centrally organized leadership - each gang tends to be loyal to its own leader. The police have placed bounties on some notable leaders, including Ado Aleru and Bello Turji, and in 2022 the government designated the bandits as terrorists in a bid to stem their violence.

Boko Haram - jihadist group

This Islamist militant group became infamous in 2014 for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls, most of whom remain missing. Initially founded in 2002, it has sought to establish an Islamic state and even after loss of territory and leaders, still conducts regular attacks on civilians.

Iswap - Boko Haram splinter group

Formed by commanders dissatisfied with Boko Haram's brutality, ISWAP focuses more on military targets and is believed to be gaining strength.

Ansaru - Boko Haram splinter group

This group operates away from the northeast, involved in kidnapping and attacks on transportation.

Herders vs Farmers - battles over resources

This enduring conflict, often framed as religious, primarily centers on grazing rights and access to land, leading to cycles of reprisal attacks.

Ipob - separatist group

The secessionist movement in Nigeria's southeast traces back to historical calls for Biafran independence. The Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has pushed for an independent state for the Igbo people, leading to violence, arson, and economic disruptions.