In a devastating wave of violence, gunmen have reportedly killed at least 60 people across several remote villages in northwest Nigeria, according to local clergy and humanitarian groups. The attacks, which have left a trail of destruction, spanned two neighboring states, Kebbi and Niger, impacting at least 10 villages. The harrowing events have once again highlighted the escalating insecurity in the predominantly Muslim north of the country.
In a particularly brutal incident on Tuesday, 20 deaths were recorded in Erena, located in the Shiroro local government area of Niger state. A situation report citing three local humanitarian sources, including a health facility and a community organizing group, detailed the惨状. The attackers, described as “bandits “with “sophisticated arms, “invaded a military camp, according to a separate military security report. The police confirmed the attack, reporting that two vigilante members and a driver from the joint security team were among the fatalities.
Shiroro district has long been under the terror of local criminal groups known as “bandits “and jihadists. These two factions are increasingly forming alliances, leading to the displacement of communities and the displacement of villagers. In neighboring Kebbi state, a clergy member confirmed 24 deaths, with additional reports suggesting the toll may exceed 40.
The attackers, described as “killing everybody in sight, “targeted Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers, as well as their properties and food stores. The clergyman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, stated that the attackers had been rampaging through the area for the last three days, hunting down villagers who sought refuge in the surrounding bushes.
The aftermath of the attacks has seen at least 500 people flee to Yauri town in Kebbi state, seeking shelter in churches and schools. The local clergyman expressed the helplessness of the affected communities, noting that “people can’t even go back to bury their dead.”Despite the lack of immediate responsibility claimed for the attacks, the police have attributed them to a local jihadist group known as Mahmuda.
The Mahmuda group, active in northwest Nigeria, is affiliated with Mahmud al — Nigeri, a senior official in the Ansaru jihadist group, which broke away from Boko Haram and has since allied itself with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI). Kebbi state, situated on Nigeria’s border with Benin and Niger, has been targeted by a rising number of jihadist attacks since 2025. Conflict monitor ACLED reports a surge in violence in the area, carried out by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, similar to other states in northern Nigeria.
Source: Africanews
Original author: Sarah Miansoni
