Gunmen kill over 20 in attacks on villages in Niger State, Nigeria

At least 20 people were killed in a violent raid on two villages in north-central Nigeria , residents said Wednesday, highlighting the country’s worsening security situation.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Bagna and Erena , located in the Shiroro area of Niger State , roughly 250 kilometers from the capital, Abuja . Witnesses said gunmen, believed to be armed criminal gangs locally referred to as “bandits” typically involved in kidnapping and looting rather than directly linked to Islamist groups like Boko Haram, arrived on motorbikes and opened fire on residents, raiding homes and forcing many to flee to neighboring communities.

“They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning,” said Jibrin Isah , a resident of Erena.

While residents reported over 20 deaths, the local police confirmed three fatalities , including two vigilante members and a driver from the joint security team , with several others injured, according to Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun .

The incident reflects the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria, especially in the northern and central regions. The country faces a complex mix of threats, including a decade-long insurgency in the northeast, armed criminal gangs, and frequent clashes between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities over land and grazing rights. These conflicts have resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, according to the United Nations.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has struggled to contain these threats despite intensified military and police operations, and residents in many rural areas remain vulnerable to sudden, deadly attacks.