Motorcycle‑riding gunmen launched coordinated attacks on three villages in Niger State, killing at least 46 people, according to humanitarian sources. The assaults took place in the Borgu local government area, already shaken by a massacre earlier this month.
What Happened In Nigeria
- The deadliest attack occurred in Konkoso, where 38 people were shot or had their throats slit.
- Homes were burned, and more bodies are still being recovered.
- The attackers first struck Tungar Makeri, killing six, before moving to Konkoso and then Pissa, where they burned a police station and killed one person.
- Several women were abducted, and many residents remain missing.
A Region Under Siege
The border between Kwara and Niger states is home to the Kainji Forest, a notorious hideout for bandits and jihadist groups. Nigeria continues to battle overlapping security crises:
- A 16‑year jihadist insurgency in the northeast
- Farmer‑herder clashes in the north‑central region
- Separatist violence in the southeast
- Kidnappings for ransom in the northwest
Instability in Niger and Burkina Faso has emboldened jihadist groups operating in Nigeria’s northwest and west‑central regions.
Rising Jihadist Activity
The al‑Qaeda‑linked JNIM claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil near Woro last October. Earlier this month, jihadists killed more than 160 people in Kwara State.
Local leaders in Borgu have urged President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in the area to stem the violence.
International Angle
The U.S. military recently coordinated airstrikes with Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State, targeting Islamic State militants. U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed Christians in Nigeria are facing “genocide,” but Nigerian officials and most experts say the violence is indiscriminate, affecting both Christians and Muslims.