More than 50 people have been killed and several women and children taken captive following a brutal armed assault on a rural community in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara state, officials said. The raid, carried out by heavily armed gunmen, highlights the ongoing insecurity and rising violence plaguing the region’s rural areas.
Militants Strike Tungan Dutse Village Overnight
The deadly attack struck Tungan Dutse, a village in the Bukkuyum area, late Thursday evening and extended into the early hours of Friday. According to a local lawmaker, the assailants arrived on motorcycles, set homes ablaze, and opened fire on villagers trying to escape the assault.
Authorities and community leaders reported that at least 50 residents were killed, while the exact number of abducted women and children is still being determined as lists of missing persons are compiled.
Security Concerns Mount as Rural Communities Suffer
Residents told journalists that warning signs were apparent before the attack, with large groups of armed men spotted in the area. Local officials are now urging stronger security measures as violence by militant gangs continues to destabilize rural communities in northern Nigeria.
Traditional leaders and local government officials are working to account for those unaccounted for and offer support to affected families. The latest raid adds to a troubling pattern of mass killings and kidnappings that have become more frequent in parts of the country.
