Gunmen on motorcycles killed at least 30 people and burned down houses and shops in three villages in northwestern Nigeria on Sunday, residents who escaped the attacks told Reuters.
These latest deadly attacks on villages in Borgu Local Government Area, near the border with Benin, are part of a surge in violence attributed to “bandits” who are carrying out kidnappings for ransom and displacing communities across northern Nigeria.
Insecurity is a major challenge for the Nigerian government, which is under increasing pressure to restore stability.
A police spokesman confirmed one of the attacks.
"Suspected bandits attacked the village of Tunga-Makeri. Six people were killed, some houses were burned, and an unknown number of people were abducted," he said, adding that the attackers then headed towards the village of Konkoso, while details of the other attacks remain unclear.
A Konkos resident, who fled to a neighboring area, said the attack on his village began early in the morning with sporadic gunfire.
"At least 26 people have been killed in the village so far after the police station was burned," said a local resident.
According to him, residents also heard military planes flying over the area.
Another eyewitness said that the attackers, on more than 200 motorcycles, passed through the area, targeting villages.
Bonus video:
