Gunmen killed at least 14 people, including three pregnant women, in a midnight attack on a rural community in Nigeria’s Plateau State, residents and local officials said Friday, in the latest wave of violence to hit the country’s north-central region.
The attack targeted the Ngbra Zongo community in Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area, where armed assailants reportedly stormed the village shortly after midnight, shooting residents and attacking homes with machetes as people slept. Survivors said the gunmen moved from house to house during the raid, triggering panic and forcing many families to flee into surrounding bushland.
Community sources said at least 14 people were confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries. Local residents identified three of the victims as pregnant women.
“The attackers came around midnight and started shooting sporadically,” resident Philip Alanga told local media, describing scenes of chaos as villagers attempted to escape.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, but Plateau State has long been plagued by deadly clashes involving armed groups, criminal gangs, and tensions between farming and herding communities. The region has witnessed repeated mass killings and reprisal attacks over recent years, despite increased military deployments.
The latest killings come amid growing concern over deteriorating security across Nigeria, where armed attacks, kidnappings, and insurgent violence have intensified in several states in 2026. Earlier this year, hundreds were reportedly killed in extremist attacks in Kwara State, while Boko Haram and ISWAP militants have continued assaults in the northeast.
Local leaders condemned the Plateau attack and urged Nigerian authorities to strengthen protection for vulnerable rural communities. Residents said many displaced families were sheltering in nearby towns following the assault, fearing further violence.