Nigeria Violence: 24 Killed in Attacks on Traders and Villagers

22:10

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 24 people, including eight soldiers and a police officer, were killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria over the weekend, according to residents and humanitarian sources cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. The incidents highlight persistent security threats facing communities in the country’s northwestern and central regions.

The attacks occurred in Zamfara State in the northwest and Niger State in central Nigeria, where armed criminal gangs and jihadist groups have continued to threaten civilians, security personnel and local livelihoods.

Deadly ambush in Zamfara State

The first attack took place on Sunday in Bukkuyum district, Zamfara State, when armed men ambushed a convoy of traders travelling to a weekly market.

According to local accounts, the convoy had departed from Gwashi and was heading towards Gurusu, with the traders planning to reach the market in Nasarawa village when the attackers opened fire.

Lawal Muhammad, a local leader in Bukkuyum, told AFP that 13 people died in the assault. The victims included eight soldiers, one police officer and four traders, among them a woman.

Eleven other people were injured, including three soldiers, and were taken to hospital for treatment, he added.

Residents said the attackers subsequently looted goods and ransacked vehicles before setting three vehicles ablaze. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of roads used by traders and residents in the area.

Jamilu Umar and Al-Mustapha Muhammad, two residents of Bukkuyum, confirmed the reported death toll. Al-Mustapha Muhammad described the road between Gwashi and Gurusu as increasingly dangerous for travellers.

Jihadist attack forces residents towards Benin

A separate assault between Saturday and Sunday left 11 people dead in Kigbera, a community in Borgu district, Niger State, according to two humanitarian sources cited by AFP.

The attack was attributed to fighters from Lakurawa, a jihadist group operating in the wider region. Four members of a local security militia were among those killed, one humanitarian source said.

Fear of further violence prompted residents to leave their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring Benin, according to another local humanitarian source who confirmed the reported fatalities.

The displacement underscores the pressure on communities in Niger State, an agricultural area with significant mineral resources, where repeated attacks have disrupted daily life and driven residents away from their villages.

Security challenges continue to affect rural communities

The two incidents illustrate the different but overlapping threats confronting parts of Nigeria. Criminal gangs, commonly known locally as bandits, are associated with kidnappings for ransom, livestock theft and attacks on rural settlements. Jihadist groups also operate in parts of the country, contributing to an increasingly complex security environment.

The consequences extend beyond the immediate loss of life. Attacks on commercial convoys disrupt access to markets, while assaults on villages can undermine farming activities, damage livelihoods and trigger cross-border displacement.

In Zamfara, the reported ambush targeted a convoy travelling along a route used for commercial activity. In Niger State, the attack on Kigbera prompted residents to flee across the border, illustrating how insecurity can affect both local economies and neighbouring communities.

The latest violence adds to the difficulties facing authorities as they seek to protect civilians, secure transport routes and prevent further displacement in affected parts of Nigeria.