Gunmen attacked an artisanal gold mining site in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state on Thursday, killing at least 19 people, according to a mining union official and Amnesty International. Yahaya Adamu Gobirawa, a union representative, said the attackers struck at noon, killing miners and five vigilantes providing security. Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, Isa Sanusi, reported a slightly higher death toll of 20, citing multiple sources.
The attack occurred in Gobirawar Chali village, within the Maru local government area. While police have not confirmed the incident, investigations are ongoing. Local officials described the assault as unprovoked, noting that a previous attempt by the assailants earlier in the week had been repelled.
Witnesses said the attackers returned in greater numbers, heavily armed, and overwhelmed the site’s defenses. Violence by criminal gangs, often referred to as bandits, remains widespread in Zamfara and neighboring states, where security infrastructure is limited.
