Deadly Motorbike Attacks in Niger State
Gunmen riding motorcycles launched dawn raids on three villages in north-western Nigeria, killing dozens of people. The attackers shot or slit the throats of victims, set homes ablaze, and abducted an undetermined number of individuals in Niger state, according to local reports obtained by AFP.
The assaults occurred on Saturday morning near the location of a suspected jihadist massacre earlier this month, where over 100 people were killed in a similar manner.
Bandit Attacks Escalate in Western and Central Nigeria
Armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, have conducted attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria for several years. However, reports of such incidents have increased sharply in the western and central regions recently.
The bandits targeted the village of Tunga-Makeri early in the morning. Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State police spokesperson, informed AFP that six people were killed in Tunga-Makeri.
"Some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted,"
Abiodun said.
Most casualties were reported in the nearby village of Konkoso, which was the second village attacked. Witnesses told AFP that almost all homes in Konkoso were burned and four women were abducted.
Following the attack on Konkoso, the bandits proceeded to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person, according to witness accounts.
Casualty Figures and Attack Details
reported the death toll across the three villages to be approximately 32, while AFP cited at least 46 fatalities. Details regarding other potential attacks in nearby villages remain unclear, and reports indicate the death toll could rise.
A security report referenced by AFP stated that the bandits arrived on "41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men."
Context of Violence and Security Challenges
Nigeria's leadership faces increasing pressure to address the violence, with jihadist groups active in the north-west and separatist insurgents operating in the south-east of the country.
The United States conducted strikes on Christmas Day targeting Islamist militants in Nigeria's northern Sokoto state. Additionally, then-President Donald Trump warned of further attacks "if they continue to kill Christians."
Organizations monitoring political violence in Nigeria report that many victims of jihadist violence are Muslim.
