Gunmen have killed at least 20 people in an attack on a gold mining village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, according to residents and Amnesty International.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but Zamfara has been plagued by armed gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom, often targeting both civilians and security forces.
Ismail Hassan, a local resident, described how hundreds of gunmen opened fire on miners Thursday afternoon in the village of Gobirawa Chali, located in the Maru local government area of Zamfara state. A firefight followed, leaving more than 20 dead. Another resident, Isah Ibrahim, confirmed that 21 bodies were recovered, with several others injured.
Amnesty International reported that the attackers went house-to-house, killing over 20 people. The attack is part of a broader wave of violence from armed gangs operating in Nigeria’s northwest, where insecurity has been fueled by criminal groups hiding in remote forests. The country’s stretched military has struggled to address security challenges, including the ongoing Islamist insurgency in the northeast and conflicts in other regions.