NIGERIA: At least 50 people have been confirmed dead after a horrific attack by gunmen on a village in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, in a siege that lasted more than ten hours.
According to reports from the scene, the heavily armed assailants began their assault on the village at approximately 5:00 PM local time. The attack, which residents described as unrelenting, continued until 3:30 AM the following morning. During the 10-hour rampage, the gunmen set numerous houses on fire, trapping some victims inside, and opened fire on residents attempting to flee the violence.
A local lawmaker, confirming the grim details, expressed deep concern that the final death toll may rise further as search and rescue efforts continue and more bodies are recovered from the rubble of burned-down homes and surrounding areas.
In addition to the massacre, the attackers also engaged in mass abduction. Several women and children were seized during the initial raid. The news agency further reported that the victims were taken to the nearby city of Maiduguri, where witnesses stated that the gunmen continued their hostage-taking, capturing more women and children. The exact number of those abducted remains unknown at this time, fueling anxiety among families searching for their loved ones.
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the region, highlighting the severe security challenges facing communities in Zamfara state. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the massacre.
