Hundreds of Victims in Coordinated Attacks by Jihadists and Bandits in Northern Nigeria

Northwestern Nigeria has become the scene of tragic events, with dozens of civilians killed. The most serious incident was recorded in Zamfara state, where in the village of Tungan Dutse, attackers killed at least 50 people. The attack lasted from Thursday afternoon until the early hours of Friday, and the perpetrators managed to burn buildings and abduct an unknown number of women and children. Simultaneously, in Kebbi state, a coordinated assault on seven villages, including Mamunu and Awasaka, occurred, for which responsibility is attributed to the new jihadist group Lakurawa. Local police confirmed the deaths of at least 34 people, although some security reports suggest the death toll may be higher. The security situation in the region is deteriorating rapidly, sparking sharp criticism of the central authorities. The Bishop of the Ilorin diocese, Archbishop Anselm Pendo Lawani, pointed out that the perpetrators act with a sense of complete impunity. Residents of the attacked localities tried to resist but were overwhelmed by the attackers' firepower. The military and police launched pursuit operations, but the difficult, border terrain favors the fighters' escape. The USA expressed concern over the increased activity of terrorist groups, which are increasingly terrorizing agricultural communities in the north of the country. Northwestern Nigeria has been grappling for years with a dual threat: the activities of jihadists linked to the Islamic State and so-called bandits, organized groups engaged in kidnappings for ransom and cattle rustling. This conflict has ethnic and economic roots, stemming from resource struggles between nomadic herders and settled farmers. „The perpetrators act with impunity due to the government's slow response.” — Anselm Pendo Lawani The increased activity of the Lakurawa group is particularly alarming, as this faction originates from the border area with Niger and exploits the security vacuum following the coup there. Security experts indicate that without a radical strengthening of military presence in rural areas, the wave of violence will spread to other states, paralyzing local agriculture and the economy.