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Deadly dawn attacks target three Nigerian villages
Armed assailants on motorcycles stormed three villages in north-western Nigeria before dawn on Saturday, killing at least 46 people, burning homes, and abducting residents, according to local officials and witnesses.
Attack details emerge
Gunmen launched coordinated raids in Niger State, shooting or slitting throats of victims before setting houses ablaze. The assaults began in Tunga-Makeri, where police confirmed six deaths and multiple abductions. Witnesses reported nearly all homes in Konkoso were torched, with four women taken captive. The attackers then moved to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person.
A security report cited by AFP stated the assailants arrived on 41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three armed men. Casualty figures varied, with Reuters reporting approximately 32 deaths while AFP confirmed at least 46 fatalities. Authorities warned the toll could rise as reports from nearby villages remain unverified.
Pattern of violence raises concerns
The attacks occurred near the site of a suspected jihadist massacre earlier this month that left over 100 dead. While armed criminal gangs, locally called 'bandits,' have operated in Nigeria for years, recent months have seen a sharp increase in raids across western and central regions.
"Some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted," said Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State police spokesperson.
Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State Police
Government under pressure
Nigeria's leadership faces mounting criticism over its inability to curb escalating violence. Jihadist groups remain active in the north-west, while separatist insurgents operate in the south-east. The U.S. conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day targeting Islamist militants, with President Donald Trump threatening further action if attacks on Christians continued.
However, organizations tracking political violence in Nigeria note that many jihadist victims are Muslim, complicating narratives about religious targeting in the conflict.
Aftermath and response
Local authorities have not yet released an official statement on security measures following the attacks. The region remains on high alert as communities mourn the latest wave of violence.
