At least 32 killed in northern Nigeria attack by gunmen

Multiple Attacks Rock Northern Nigeria Communities

At least 32 people have been killed and several more abducted in three villages in northern Nigeria’s Niger State, according to eyewitnesses and local authorities. The attacks occurred on Saturday in the Borgu area, which is already experiencing a complex security crisis involving armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and gangs that abduct people for ransom.

The raids targeted Tunga-Makeri village, where six persons lost their lives and several houses were set ablaze, according to Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun. The assailants then moved on to Konkoso village, where sporadic gunfire was reported in the early hours of the attack. Residents claim that at least 26 people were killed in the village after the police station was set ablaze.

The attacks in Konkoso are believed to have begun around 6am local time, with military jets reportedly flying overhead. The death toll has been reported as high as 38 by an unnamed humanitarian source, citing victims who were shot dead or had their throats slit. Many homes in the village were burned down, and several people remain unaccounted for.

The attacks in Pissa have also been confirmed, with a police station being set on fire and one person killed. The assailants are believed to have moved from Tunga-Makeri to Konkoso before targeting Pissa.

These attacks follow a deadly attack earlier this month in neighboring Kwara and Katsina states, which killed nearly 200 people. The border between Niger and Kwara states is home to the Kainji Forest, a known haven for bandits and fighters.

Source: Al Jazeera