At least 20 killed in attacks on villages in northwest Nigeria
AFP reported that armed men attacked communities in Zamfara State as Nigeria faces a broader wave of kidnappings and rural violence.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Armed attackers killed at least 20 people in villages in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara State, AFP reported. The killings add to a series of raids and kidnappings that have strained security forces across parts of northern and central Nigeria.
Nasiru Lauwali, the representative of the Sauna district in the Talata Mafara local government area, told AFP that many armed men entered local communities on Wednesday afternoon. Lauwali said the attackers struck between 3pm and 4pm local time and targeted people they encountered.
Violence spreads across rural communities
AFP reported that the Zamfara attacks came during a period of increased violence in northwest and central Nigeria. Armed gangs, often described locally as bandits, have raided villages in recent weeks, according to the agency.
Those groups have been accused of stealing livestock and abducting residents for ransom, AFP reported. Kidnapping has become a frequent threat in Nigeria, where armed groups seek payments from families, communities and the government, according to the agency.
The violence is part of a broader security crisis that AFP linked in part to the long-running Boko Haram rebellion in Nigeria’s northeast. SBM Intelligence said attackers received more than $1.6m in ransom payments in 2024.
Separate security operation in Kwara
In another incident, Nigeria’s The Punch reported that security forces killed at least three suspected bandits late Tuesday in Kwara State. The news website said forces also rescued a businessman, Tuhkur Sanni.
The Punch report, as cited by AFP, described the Kwara operation as separate from the Zamfara village attacks. No further details on the Kwara raid were provided.
School abductions remain a national concern
The Zamfara killings followed the rescue earlier this month of dozens of students and teachers who had been abducted from three schools in Oyo State, according to reports cited by AFP. The hostages were freed 56 days after their kidnapping.
A statement issued by President Bola Tinubu said eight suspected kidnappers were arrested in connection with that case and an unspecified number were killed. Defence Minister Christopher Musa said the suspects intended to use the captives to pressure the government into freeing some of their commanders from prison.
AFP reported that the recent attacks and abductions show the scale of the challenge facing Nigeria’s security agencies. Communities in affected regions continue to face raids, ransom kidnappings and livestock theft attributed to armed groups.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.