Gunmen on motorcycles kill at least 50 in northwest Nigeria: Report

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked Tungan Dutse village in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, on Thursday night and Friday morning, killing at least 50 people and abducting an unknown number of women and children. The attackers set buildings on fire after arriving. A local lawmaker reported the casualties and abductions, while residents stated they had alerted security forces to the presence of armed men on motorcycles the day before the attack. The motive for the attack is not stated in the article. The region is experiencing ongoing security challenges from armed criminal gangs and rebel fighters; a similar attack in Niger State last week resulted in at least 46 deaths.

On Saturday, February 15, 2026, motorcycle-riding gunmen attacked three villages in the Borgu area of Niger State, northern Nigeria, killing at least 32 people and abducting an unknown number of others. Witnesses reported the attacks, which targeted Tunga-Makeri and Konkoso villages, among others. In Konkoso, at least 26 people were killed, a police station was burned, and residents reported a lack of security presence during the attacks. The attacks occurred amid a complex security crisis in northern Nigeria, involving armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom.

Armed bandits on motorcycles raided three villages in Niger state, northwestern Nigeria, on Saturday morning, killing at least 30-46 people. The attackers shot or slit the throats of victims, set homes on fire, and abducted an undetermined number of people. The villages targeted were Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa, where a police station was also burned. The attacks occurred near the site of a previous massacre earlier this month. Armed criminal gangs, known as bandits, have been carrying out attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria for years, with a recent surge in the western and central regions. The Nigerian government is facing pressure to curb the violence amid activity from jihadist groups and separatist insurgents.

Armed assailants killed at least 30 people in attacks on three villages in the Borgu local government area of Niger state, northwest Nigeria, early Saturday. Residents reported the attackers, riding motorbikes, burned houses and shops in Tunga-Makeri and Konkoso villages, near the Benin Republic border. A police spokesperson confirmed the attack in Tunga-Makeri, reporting six deaths, houses set ablaze, and abductions. The attacks are attributed to "bandits" responsible for widespread violence, including killings, abductions, and displacement across northern Nigeria. The Nigerian government faces increasing pressure to address the escalating insecurity in the region.