At least 20 people have been killed in northwest Nigeria after armed gang members attacked villages in Zamfara State, according to the AFP news agency. The Zamfara bandit attack reflects a broader surge in violence, as armed gangs continue raiding villages across northwest and central Nigeria.
“Today, between 3pm [14:00 GMT] and 4pm [15:00 GMT], a large number of bandits have invaded our communities, targeting all the people they meet,” Nasiru Lauwali, representative of the Sauna district in the Talata Mafara local government zone, told AFP on Wednesday.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Violence
The attacks come amid escalating violence in northwest and central Nigeria, where armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, have raided villages in recent weeks. They are accused of stealing livestock and kidnapping residents for ransom.
Late on Tuesday, security forces killed at least three suspected bandits in Nigeria’s Kwara State, according to Nigerian news outlet The Punch. The outlet reported that security forces also managed to rescue a businessman, Tuhkur Sanni, during the operation.
Kidnapping for Ransom Remains Widespread
Kidnappings have become common across Nigeria, as armed groups seek large ransom payments from both the government and ordinary citizens. The situation has worsened amid a broader security crisis, partly fuelled by the Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s northeast. According to SBM Intelligence, attackers earned more than $1.6 million in ransom payments in 2024 alone.
Recent Rescue of Kidnapped Schoolchildren
Earlier this month, security forces rescued dozens of students and teachers 56 days after they were kidnapped from three schools in the southwestern state of Oyo. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, and an unspecified number were killed, according to a statement issued by President Bola Tinubu.
Defence Minister Christopher Musa said the suspects had planned to use the hostages as leverage to pressure the government into releasing some of their commanders from prison.
