Deadly Raids in Northwest Nigeria Leave at Least 30 Dead
Armed assailants on motorbikes have killed a minimum of 30 individuals and set fire to numerous homes and shops during coordinated raids on three villages in northwest Nigeria's Niger State. The attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday, according to residents who managed to escape the violence and provided accounts to Reuters.
Residents Flee as Bandits Strike Villages
The assaults targeted villages within the Borgu local government area, situated near the border with the Benin Republic. This incident is part of a broader surge in violence attributed to criminal groups commonly referred to as bandits. These groups have been responsible for a series of deadly assaults, kidnappings for ransom, and widespread displacement across northern Nigeria in recent times.
Wasiu Abiodun, the police spokesperson for Niger State, confirmed the attack on one of the villages, Tunga-Makeri. He stated, Suspected bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri village, six persons lost their lives, some houses were also set ablaze and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted. Abiodun added that the assailants subsequently moved on to Konkoso village, while details regarding other attacks remain unclear and under investigation.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaos and Fear
Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso who fled to a nearby locality, reported that the attack on his village commenced in the early hours with sporadic gunfire. At least 26 people were killed so far in the village after they set the police station ablaze, said Timothy, noting that the attackers entered Konkoso around 6am local time, shooting indiscriminately. He also mentioned that residents heard military jets flying overhead during the incident.
Another witness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, described the attackers as riding more than 200 motorbikes as they swept through the area, specifically targeting the villages. Auwal Ibrahim, a resident of Tunga-Makeri, recounted the early-morning assault on his village, which occurred at approximately 2am GMT. The bandits stormed our town around 3am local time, riding so many motorcycles while shooting sporadically, beheading six people and killing others. They set shops on fire and forced the whole village to flee, Ibrahim explained. He added that many villagers are too fearful to return, as the gunmen are believed to remain in the vicinity.
Government Under Pressure to Address Insecurity
Insecurity has become a pressing and critical concern throughout Nigeria, with the government facing mounting pressure from citizens and international observers to restore stability and ensure public safety. The persistent violence in northern regions, including these latest raids, highlights the ongoing challenges in combating armed criminal groups and protecting vulnerable communities.
As investigations continue, local authorities and security forces are working to assess the full extent of the damage and casualties. The situation underscores the urgent need for effective strategies to address the root causes of banditry and enhance security measures in affected areas.
