Bandits Kill Over 20 in Fresh Zamfara Village Attack
Wave of deadly raids leaves scores dead as insecurity deepens across Northwest Nigeria
No fewer than 20 people have been killed after suspected bandits launched coordinated attacks on several communities in Zamfara State, in the latest wave of violence to hit northwest Nigeria.
According to AFP, the attackers stormed villages in the Sauna District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area on Wednesday, opening fire on residents and killing anyone in their path.
Speaking on the incident, the representative of the Sauna District, Nasiru Lauwali, said the gunmen invaded the communities between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“Today, between 3pm [14:00 GMT] and 4pm [15:00 GMT], a large number of bandits have invaded our communities, targeting all the people they meet,” Lauwali told AFP.
The latest killings come amid a renewed wave of attacks across northwestern and central Nigeria, where armed gangs have continued to raid communities, rustle livestock and abduct residents for ransom.
On Tuesday night, security operatives reportedly killed at least three suspected bandits during an operation in Kwara State. According to The Punch, the operatives also rescued a businessman, Tuhkur Sanni, who had been abducted.
Kidnapping has become one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges, with criminal groups demanding huge ransom payments from families and, in some cases, the government.
The growing insecurity has been compounded by the prolonged insurgency in the North-East, where Boko Haram and other armed groups continue to fuel instability.
According to SBM Intelligence, kidnappers received more than $1.6 million in ransom payments in 2024.
Earlier this month, dozens of students and teachers regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity following their abduction from three schools in Oyo State.
President Bola Tinubu disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the rescue operation, while an unspecified number of others were killed.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, said preliminary investigations revealed that the abductors intended to use the victims as bargaining chips to pressure the government into releasing some of their detained commanders.
