Deadly Raid in Northwestern Nigeria: Dozens Killed, Women and Children Abducted
At least 50 people were killed and several women and children abducted after armed men attacked Tungan Dutse village in Zamfara state, Nigeria. The assailants, arriving on over 150 motorcycles, burned buildings and shot residents during a 10-hour raid despite prior warnings to security forces.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — At least 50 individuals have been confirmed dead, and an unknown number of women and children have been taken captive following a violent assault on a rural community in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, according to a local legislator.
Hamisu A. Faru, who represents the Bukkuyum South constituency in the state assembly, reported that armed groups besieged the village of Tungan Dutse in a protracted attack lasting from approximately 5:00 p.m. on Thursday until 3:30 a.m. on Friday. The assailants systematically set fire to residential structures and opened fire on residents attempting to escape.
"The attackers are moving from one village to another... leaving at least 50 people dead," Faru stated in a telephonic interview. He further noted that the precise number of abducted individuals remains unconfirmed, as traditional authorities and local government officials are currently conducting a headcount to ascertain the number of missing persons.
Official confirmation from security forces is still pending, as the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command did not respond to requests for comment at the time of this report.
A resident of Tungan Dutse, 41-year-old Abdullahi Sani, confirmed the loss of three family members in the violence. "No one slept last night; we are all in pain," he recounted. Sani also alleged that prior warnings to security forces were disregarded. He stated that residents had observed a convoy of over 150 motorcycles transporting armed fighters a day before the incident and had alerted both local authorities and security personnel, but no action was taken.
This incident underscores the escalating security crisis in Nigeria’s northern region, where so-called "bandit" groups are increasingly responsible for large-scale violence, including mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, and the widespread displacement of communities. The persistent insecurity continues to mount pressure on the Nigerian government to implement effective measures to restore stability and protect civilians.
