Gunmen on motorcycles kill at least 50 in northwest Nigeria: Report | Armed Groups News
Nigerian Lawmaker Reports Death Toll Exceeds 50 Following Village Attack
Gunmen killed at least 50 people and abducted several women and children during an overnight assault on Tungan Dutse village in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara State, local authorities and eyewitnesses reported on Friday.
The attack began late Thursday and extended into the early hours of Friday, as armed men on motorcycles set fire to buildings and seized residents in the Bukkuyum area. Hamisu A. Faru, a lawmaker representing Bukkuyum South, confirmed the death toll in a phone interview with Reuters, noting that a precise count of the abducted individuals remained uncertain as local officials compiled a list of the missing.
Residents indicated that warning signs preceded the assault. Abdullahi Sani, a local villager, stated that security forces had been alerted after observing over 150 motorcycles carrying armed individuals just a day prior, but no action was taken. “No one slept yesterday; we are all in pain,” Sani said, sharing that three family members were among those killed in the attack.
The unrest in Nigeria’s north and west is fueled by a mix of armed criminal gangs and rebel fighters. Just a week prior, at least 46 individuals were reported killed in attacks in the Borgu area of northwest Niger State, with the deadliest occurring in the village of Konkoso.
The escalating violence has drawn increased international attention. Nigeria is currently enhancing security cooperation with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s accusations that the Nigerian government has failed to stop the killings of Christians, which he suggested might warrant military intervention.
On December 25, the U.S. conducted air strikes in coordination with Nigerian authorities in the northern state of Sokoto. This week, the Nigerian military confirmed the deployment of 100 U.S. soldiers to assist with training local forces. Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, remarked that the U.S. personnel will provide technical support and intelligence sharing, ensuring that operations remain under Nigerian command without direct engagement in combat.
