Motorcycles raids kill at least 32 in Northern Nigeria

At least 32 people were killed and several others abducted after armed assailants riding motorcycles carried out coordinated attacks on three villages in Nigeria’s Niger State, reports Al Jazeera.

The attacks took place on Saturday (February 14) in the Borgu area, where armed groups locally referred to as “bandits” operate. Fighters linked to Islamic State (IS) and Boko Haram are also active in parts of northern Nigeria, frequently carrying out killings, arson, and kidnappings for ransom in rural communities.

Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said suspected gunmen first attacked Tunga-Makeri village, killing six people, setting homes ablaze, and abducting an unspecified number of residents. The assailants later moved to Konkosso village, with details from other affected areas still being gathered.

Residents of Konkosso described a deadly assault that began at dawn with heavy gunfire. Jeremiah Timothy, a local resident, said attackers set fire to the local police station before 6:00am and killed at least 26 people. He added that military jets were seen patrolling overhead as the gunmen entered the village and opened fire indiscriminately.

Another resident, Abdullahi Adamu, told the Associated Press that 26 people were killed in Konkosso alone, claiming there was no visible security presence during the attack.

A humanitarian worker cited by AFP said the death toll in the village could be as high as 38, with reports of victims shot or killed with machetes. Homes were torched, and additional bodies were being recovered from the rubble.

After the assault on Konkosso, the attackers reportedly moved to Pissa village, where they burned another police station and killed at least one person. Several residents remain missing, with families searching through debris for survivors.

Earlier this month, nearly 200 people were reported killed in separate attacks in the neighboring states of Kwara and Katsina, underscoring the persistent insecurity in northern Nigeria.