African Union and Somalia condemn deadly attack in Nigeria’s Zamfara State

African Union, Somalia condemn deadly Zamfara attack in Nigeria; demand release of abducted women, children

The African Union and Somalia on Monday condemned a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state that left at least 50 civilians dead and women and children abducted, urging the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all captives.

• AU expresses full solidarity with Nigeria, calls attacks grave human rights violations
• Somalia backs Nigeria’s efforts to pursue perpetrators and free abductees
• Assailants on motorcycles torched homes and fired on fleeing residents in Tungan Dutse

AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf offered the bloc’s “heartfelt” condolences to the government and people of Nigeria and said the AU unequivocally rejects terrorism and violent extremism against civilians, especially women and children. Such attacks, he said in a statement, are grave human rights violations and a serious threat to peace, security and stability.

Youssouf called for the “immediate, safe, and unconditional” release of all abducted women and children and urged stronger, coordinated action to protect civilians and prevent future atrocities. He reaffirmed the AU’s “unwavering” support for Nigeria’s efforts to tackle insecurity and restore lasting peace.

Somalia’s Foreign Ministry also voiced solidarity with Abuja and condolences to the families of victims, urging the “immediate and unconditional” release of all abductees and backing Nigeria’s push to bring those responsible to justice. “Africa must remain united against terrorism and in the protection of civilians,” the ministry said.

The assault, carried out by armed groups locally referred to as bandits, began Thursday night and continued into Friday morning, according to local accounts. Attackers on motorcycles set fire to buildings and opened fire on residents in the village of Tungan Dutse as they tried to flee, leaving a charred trail of destruction and a grieving community in their wake.

The killings underscore the entrenched insecurity afflicting Nigeria’s northwest, where Zamfara and neighboring states have endured years of rural banditry, mass kidnappings and indiscriminate violence. Thousands have been displaced amid cycles of attacks and reprisals that strain overstretched local authorities and complicate humanitarian access.

Abuja has deployed troops and police and sought to blunt the threat through a mix of military operations and outreach, while working with international partners, including the United States, on technical support and intelligence sharing. Despite those efforts, authorities continue to grapple with overlapping threats posed by armed criminal gangs and insurgent groups, as well as the complex drivers of rural violence, from resource competition to shattered local mediation systems.

The AU’s and Somalia’s swift condemnations reflect broader regional concern that unchecked violence in one part of the Sahel and its periphery can reverberate across borders, imperiling civilian life and undermining trust in state institutions. Both urged unity and coordinated action to shield communities, free abductees and hold perpetrators to account.

As Tungan Dutse mourns and officials assess the full toll, the calls from Addis Ababa and Mogadishu add international weight to Nigeria’s pledge to restore security in Zamfara and across the northwest—an objective that, regional leaders stress, demands sustained protection of civilians and a concerted push against those driving the violence.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.