Armed Gangs Kill Over 20 in Nigeria's Zamfara State

Zamfara. At least 20 people have been killed in attacks by armed gangs in villages in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara state, AFP news agency reported.

According to Nasir Lawal, a representative of the Tálatá Mafara local administrative area, armed groups arrived in large numbers on Wednesday between 3 PM and 4 PM.

The group entered the village and indiscriminately attacked people they encountered.

He told AFP, 'Between 3 PM and 4 PM today, a large number of bandits attacked our settlement. They targeted everyone they met.'

Violence by armed gangs has intensified in Nigeria's northwest and central regions in recent weeks. These groups attack villages, steal livestock, and kidnap local residents for ransom.

Meanwhile, local media outlet The Punch reported that at least three suspected attackers were killed by security forces in Kwara state on Tuesday night. Businessman Tukur Sanni, who was kidnapped, was safely rescued during the operation.

Similarly, kidnappings for ransom have become commonplace in Nigeria in recent years. Armed groups have made kidnapping their primary means of extorting large sums of money from the government and the public.

The security crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the country's northeast has further complicated the violence. According to SBM Intelligence, kidnappers collected over $1.6 million in ransom in 2024.

Earlier this month, students and teachers kidnapped from three schools in Nigeria's southwestern Oyo state were rescued by security forces after 56 days.

According to a statement issued by President Bola Tinubu, eight suspected kidnappers involved in the incident have been arrested, while some others have been killed.

Defense Minister Christopher Musa said that the kidnappers planned to use the hostages to pressure the government to release their commanders who were in jail.

On May 15, 46 students and staff were kidnapped from two primary schools and one secondary school in Oyo state.

According to analysts, armed gangs, kidnappings for ransom, and rebel activities in Nigeria continue to make the country's security situation challenging. Rural communities in the northwest and central regions are particularly most affected.