At least 50 killed, women and children abducted in overnight attack on Zamfara village, authorities say
ABUJA, Nigeria — Gunmen killed at least 50 people and abducted an unknown number of residents, including women and children, during an overnight attack on a village in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State, authorities and residents said Friday.
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The assault began late Thursday and continued into Friday morning in Tungan Dutse village in the Bukkuyum area, where armed men on motorcycles set homes ablaze and seized residents before moving on. “They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” said Hamisu A Faru, a lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, speaking by phone to Reuters. He added that local officials were still compiling lists of the missing.
Residents said warning signs were visible a day earlier. Abdullahi Sani, 41, said villagers alerted security forces after spotting more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men on Thursday, but no action was taken. “No one slept yesterday; we are all in pain,” Sani said, adding that three members of his family were among the dead.
The attack underscores the widening security crisis in Nigeria’s north and west, where overlapping threats from armed criminal groups and rebel fighters have left rural communities exposed to repeated raids, arson and kidnappings for ransom.
Just last week, at least 46 people were killed in a series of raids in the Borgu area of northwest Niger State. The deadliest assault occurred in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 residents were either shot or had their throats cut, according to local reports.
The violence has drawn increased international involvement. Nigeria recently expanded security cooperation with the United States after President Donald Trump accused the country of failing to halt the killing of Christians and threatened military intervention.
On Dec. 25, the U.S. launched air strikes on the northern state of Sokoto in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Earlier this week, Nigeria’s military confirmed the arrival of 100 U.S. soldiers to train local forces. Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, said the U.S. troops would provide “technical support” and “intelligence sharing,” along with “associated equipment.” He stressed the U.S. personnel would not engage directly in combat and would operate under Nigerian command.
As authorities in Zamfara work to account for the missing from the Tungan Dutse attack, residents fear the death toll could climb. Faru said local leaders were still verifying casualties across multiple communities targeted in the overnight rampage.
The latest assault adds to a grim tally across the region and highlights the persistent challenges facing overstretched security forces in securing remote districts and responding to advance warnings from vulnerable communities.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
