Armed gunmen kill 60 people in brutal attacks on Nigerian villages

Nigeria – (Web Desk) – Gunmen have killed at least 60 people in northwest Nigeria this week. The violence swept through several small and remote villages. Local priests and aid workers confirmed the deaths on Wednesday. Nigeria is dealing with a serious rise in attacks across its northern states.

The attackers hit at least 10 villages across two states. Kebbi and Niger state were both targeted. Aid workers and clergy on the ground shared what they saw with reporters.

One of the deadliest moments came on Tuesday in a village called Erena. Around 20 people were killed there in a single attack. The village sits in Shiroro district in Niger state. A local man named Tijjani Ibrahim said a large group of armed men rushed into his village without warning. They fired guns in every direction. They killed people and burned homes to the ground. Ibrahim ran into the bush to save his life.

“At least 20 people were killed and many others were taken away,” he said.

A military report said the attackers were heavily armed bandits. They even stormed a military camp during the raids. Police confirmed the attack. They also said two local security volunteers and a driver lost their lives.

Shiroro has been dealing with this kind of violence for years. Local criminal gangs called bandits have long terrorised communities there. Jihadist fighters are also present in the region. Now the two groups are joining forces. That has made life even more dangerous for people living in these villages.

In Kebbi state a church leader said at least 24 people were confirmed dead. He said reports coming in pointed to more than 40 killed. Another Christian leader gave a similar number of around 40.

A clergy member who asked not to be named said the attackers showed no mercy at all. They killed Christians. They killed Muslims. They killed traditional worshippers too. No one was spared. They also burned churches and Muslim homes. They destroyed livestock and food stores that families depend on to survive.

He said the attackers had been moving through the area for three straight days. When villagers ran into the bush to hide the gunmen followed them. They searched the surrounding trees and fields and shot people hiding there.

“They were not leaving anything and they were not taking anything. They came only to kill and destroy,” he said.

At least 500 people have now fled their homes. Many are taking shelter in churches and schools in Yauri town in Kebbi state. Families are so afraid that they cannot even go back to bury their dead.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. But police pointed the finger at a local jihadist group called Mahmuda. The group is linked to a man named Mahmud al-Nigeri. He holds a senior position in a militant organisation called Ansaru. That group split from Boko Haram years ago. It has since built ties with Al-Qaeda in North Africa.

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Kebbi state shares a border with Benin and Niger. Since 2025 it has seen a sharp rise in jihadist activity. A conflict tracking organisation called ACLED says violence in the area has been growing fast. Both Al-Qaeda and Islamic State linked groups are behind much of it.

Nigeria is now under growing pressure from the international community over its security crisis. That includes pressure from US President Donald Trump. On Wednesday the United States said it was allowing government staff and their families to leave the capital Abuja. The move came as concerns about safety across the country continue to grow.