Gunmen attacked three villages in northwestern Nigeria before dawn on Saturday, killing at least 30 people and leaving several others missing, according to police and resident accounts.
The raids targeted the communities of Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa in Niger State’s Borgu region, an area bordering Kwara State. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the assault on Tunga-Makeri, stating that six people were killed and homes were set ablaze. He added that an undetermined number of residents were abducted. Abiodun also acknowledged an attack on Konkoso but provided no further details. Reports indicate that many villagers remain unaccounted for, suggesting the death toll may rise.
The Borgu region has previously experienced severe violence; earlier this month, Islamist militants killed over 160 people in nearby Kwara State. Saturday’s attack underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing northern Nigeria, where communities face threats from both jihadist groups and locally known “bandits”—armed criminal gangs primarily engaged in kidnapping for ransom and livestock theft.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has alleged that Christians in Nigeria are victims of genocide by terrorists—a claim Nigerian authorities reject, noting that violence affects both Christian and Muslim communities. The U.S. accusations have coincided with a bilateral security agreement; in December, the U.S. conducted strikes against armed groups in Nigerian territory and maintains a military team in the country.
The attack on the Niger State villages highlights the complex and overlapping nature of the violence, where criminal banditry and ideological militancy often converge, devastating rural communities. With numerous residents still missing and homes destroyed, local recovery efforts will face significant hurdles. The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Nigeria’s security strategy and its cooperation with international partners in addressing the armed groups operating across its northwest.
