At Least 32 Killed in Deadly Attacks on Villages in Northwest Nigeria

Armed assailants on motorbikes carried out coordinated raids on three villages in northwest Nigeria’s Niger State early Saturday, killing at least 32 people, according to residents and local officials.

The attacks targeted the communities of Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa in the Borgu local government area, near the border with Benin. Homes, shops, and a local police station were set on fire during the assaults. Many residents were forced to flee as the attackers moved through the villages, shooting indiscriminately.

Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that joint security teams had been dispatched to assess the situation and rescue survivors. He stated that while six fatalities were confirmed in Tunga-Makeri, the exact number of people abducted is still being determined.

Eyewitnesses described the attackers as riding over 200 motorcycles, storming the villages at dawn. Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso, said, “At least 26 people were killed so far in the village after they set the police station ablaze. Residents are terrified to return as the attackers are still nearby.”

The attacks are part of a growing wave of violence in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs and militant groups regularly carry out raids, kidnappings, and mass killings. Earlier this month, a similar assault in neighboring Kwara State claimed 162 lives.

The Nigerian government faces mounting pressure to restore security as both domestic and international partners, including the United States, monitor the escalating crisis. U.S. military involvement in recent months has included targeted strikes on armed groups in Nigeria, highlighting the seriousness of the security situation.

Local residents report hearing military jets overhead during the attacks, but many villages remain vulnerable. The humanitarian impact continues to grow as families flee their homes in search of safety.