Armed assailants killed at least 20 people and abducted an unknown number of residents after attacking villages in northwestern Niger state, according to police and local sources, in the latest wave of violence gripping the region.
The attack took place in Shiroro district, an area long plagued by armed gangs and militant activity. Police said gunmen stormed the villages of Bagna and Erena on Tuesday, triggering a confrontation with local security.
Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said two community guards and a driver were killed when security forces responded to the нападение, while others sustained injuries.
Residents, however, reported a significantly higher toll, saying at least 20 people were killed as attackers rampaged through the এলাকa for hours, burning homes and overwhelming local defenses.
Survivors fled to nearby towns, including Gwada Zumba and Galadima Kogo, seeking safety as the violence unfolded.
Northwest Nigeria has faced escalating insecurity in recent years, with armed groups carrying out mass kidnappings, raids on rural communities, and attacks on security forces.
President Bola Tinubu has proposed allowing Nigeria’s 36 states to establish their own police forces, arguing that decentralizing security could help contain the persistent violence.