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Gunmen kill at least 38 in attack in northwest Nigeria

22 February 2026 04:09 (UTC +04:00)

At least 38 people were killed when armed attackers raided a village in northwestern Zamfara state overnight, police and local officials said Saturday, APA reports.

Zamfara State, like many northern states, is plagued by insecurity from many sources, including armed gangs locally called "bandits" who loot villages and kidnap residents, and a spreading extremist threat, with groups in the northwest extending their reach southward.

The latest attack occurred in the night of Thursday into Friday in the remote village, which had "few access routes" said Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson for the Zamfara police, adding: "Right now, normalcy has been restored in the area."

According to Hamisu Faru, a local legislator, who reported 50 deaths from the attack, "the bandits came from Gando forest. They laid siege on Dutse Dan Ajiya and opened indiscriminate fire, killing any resident who tried to flee."