Gunmen Kill at Least 46 in Fresh Nigeria Village Attacks

Motorcycle-riding gunmen stormed three villages in central Nigeria, killing at least 46 people in a series of coordinated attacks, according to humanitarian and security sources on Saturday.

The assailants, travelling on dozens of motorcycles, opened fire on residents and, in some cases, slit victims’ throats before setting homes ablaze. The attacks targeted communities in the Borgu local government area of Niger State, near the border with Kwara State — a region that has witnessed repeated violence in recent weeks.

The deadliest assault occurred in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 people were killed. Many houses were burned, and additional bodies were still being recovered, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

Earlier, the gunmen reportedly attacked the nearby village of Tungar Makeri, killing six people after overrunning the community at dawn. Several homes were set on fire, and an unknown number of residents were abducted.

Afterwards, the attackers moved on to another settlement, where they burned a police station, killed at least one person, and left many others missing. Local residents said several women were abducted during the raids.

The affected area lies close to the Kainji Forest, long considered a refuge for armed groups, including bandits and jihadist fighters. Security officials believe dozens of attackers took part, travelling on more than 40 motorcycles, each carrying multiple gunmen.

Nigeria has struggled with multiple security crises for years, including a long-running Islamist insurgency in the northeast, farmer-herder clashes in the central region, separatist unrest in the southeast, and widespread kidnappings for ransom in the northwest.

Armed gangs, locally known as bandits, continue to raid rural communities, looting property, killing residents, and abducting civilians. Jihadist groups linked to regional militant networks have also expanded operations into western and central parts of the country amid rising instability in neighbouring states.

Community and religious leaders in the Borgu area have urged the government of Bola Tinubu to establish a permanent military base to curb the recurring attacks.

While some foreign figures, including Donald Trump, have described the violence as targeting specific religious groups, Nigerian authorities and most analysts say the attacks are largely indiscriminate, affecting both Muslims and Christians.