Assailants kill over 30 in north-west Nigerian villages

Assailants kill over 30 in north-west Nigerian villages
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Armed assailants on motorbikes shot dead at least 32 people and burned houses and shops during raids on three villages in north-west Nigeria’s Niger state early on Saturday, The Guardian reported.

The dawn raids targeted the communities of Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa.

The attacks on villages in the Borgu local government area, near the border with Benin Republic, are part of a surge in attacks blamed on “bandits” who have carried out deadly assaults, abductions for ransom, and displaced communities across northern Nigeria.

Insecurity is a pressing concern in Nigeria and the government is under mounting pressure to restore stability.

Northern Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis featuring both Islamic militants and armed gangs kidnapping people for ransom.

Saturday’s attacks follow a deadly attack earlier this month in neighboring Kwara State that killed 162 people.

In the past few months, Nigeria has been in the crosshairs of the US government, which has accused the Nigerian authorities of not protecting Christians, although attacks affect both Christians and Muslims.

The accusation has resulted in a security partnership between both countries that has involved US strikes targeting armed groups in Nigerian territories in December, as well as presence of a team of US military in the West African country.

Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso who fled to a nearby locality, said the attack on his village on Saturday began in the early hours with sporadic gunfire.