Assailants kill at least 30 in northwest Nigeria villages, residents say

"Armed assailants on motorbikes killed at least 30 people and burned houses and shops during raids on three villages in northwest Nigeria's Niger State early on Saturday, residents who escaped the violence told Reuters. The attacks on villages in the Borgu local government area, near the border with Benin Republic, are part of a surge in attacks blamed on bandits,, who have carried out deadly assaults, abductions for ransom and displaced communities across northern Nigeria."

"Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso who fled to a nearby locality, said the attack on his village began in the early hours with sporadic gunfire. At least 26 people were killed so far in the village after they set the police station ablaze, said Timothy, adding that the attackers entered Konkoso around 6am (5am GMT), shooting indiscriminately. He said residents heard military jets flying overhead."

"Auwal Ibrahim, a resident of Tunga-Makeri, recounted the early-morning assault on his village at approximately 2am GMT. The bandits stormed our town around 3am (local time), riding so many motorcycles while shooting sporadically, beheading six people and killing others. They set shops on fire and forced the whole village to flee, Ibrahim said. He added that many villagers fear returning as the gunmen remain nearby."

Armed attackers on motorbikes carried out coordinated raids on three villages in the Borgu local government area of Niger State near the Benin border, killing at least 30 people and burning houses and shops. The raids form part of a wider surge in bandit attacks that include deadly assaults, abductions for ransom and displacement across northern Nigeria. Police confirmed the Tunga-Makeri attack with six fatalities, burned homes and some abductions. Witnesses reported attackers entering Konkoso around dawn, setting a police station ablaze and killing at least 26 people while military jets flew overhead. Survivors reported beheadings, shops torched and villages emptied as many fear returning while gunmen remain nearby.

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