Gunmen on motorcycles have attacked three villages in northern Nigeria, killing at least 32 people and abducting several others, according to witnesses and police.
The raids on Saturday in the Borgu area of Niger State occurred amid a complex security crisis in northern Nigeria, involving armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and criminal gangs that kidnap residents for ransom.
Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State police spokesperson, confirmed the attack in one of the villages.
“Suspected bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri village,” he said.
“Six persons lost their lives, some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted.”
He added that the assailants moved on to Konkoso village, while details of other attacks remained unclear.
Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso, told the Reuters news agency that the assault on his village began in the early hours with sporadic gunfire.
“At least 26 people were killed so far in the village after they set the police station ablaze,” said Timothy, adding that the attackers entered Konkoso around 6am (05:00 GMT), shooting indiscriminately.
He said residents heard military jets flying overhead.
Abdullahi Adamu, another Konkoso resident, said 26 people were killed.
“They were operating freely without the presence of any security,” he told The Associated Press news agency.
The AFP news agency, citing an unnamed humanitarian source, reported the death toll in Konkoso at 38. The source said victims were either shot or had their throats slit.
Most homes in the village were burned down, and apart from those already counted as dead, “other bodies are being recovered,” the source told AFP.
AFP also cited a Konkoso resident who said the gunmen had killed his nephew and abducted four women.
“After Konkoso, they went to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person. At the moment, many people are missing,” he said.
The AP reported a similar attack in Pissa, but did not provide additional details.
The attacks in Niger State follow a deadly assault earlier this month in neighboring Kwara and Katsina states that killed nearly 200 people. The border between Niger and Kwara states is home to the Kainji Forest, a known haven for bandits and fighters, including from Boko Haram. Last October, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for its first attack on Nigerian soil, near Woro in Kwara State.
Religious and community leaders in the Borgu area last week urged President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base to halt the recurring attacks, Nigerian media reported.
Nigeria is also under international pressure to restore security following accusations by United States President Donald Trump that it failed to protect Christians. Authorities have denied systematic persecution, while independent experts note that the ongoing security crises affect both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s government has strengthened security cooperation with Washington. In December, the US military conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting armed fighters, according to the US authorities.
