At least 38 people were killed in a coordinated attack on the village of Dutse Dan Ajiya in Nigeria’s Zamfara State on Thursday night, local authorities reported Saturday, as insecurity continues to escalate across the country’s northwest.
The attack, carried out by armed men arriving on motorcycles, targeted residents of the remote village in Anka Local Government Area, according to Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police. Abubakar stated that “normalcy has been restored” to the area, though details remain scarce. Vanguard News reports the death toll currently stands at 38, though Hamisu Faru, a local legislator, claims the number is closer to 50, stating the attackers “laid siege” and fired indiscriminately at fleeing residents. SaharaReporters initially reported at least 30 deaths.
The violence underscores the growing instability in Zamfara and neighboring states, where armed groups, often referred to as “bandits,” operate with relative impunity, engaging in looting, kidnapping for ransom, and widespread killings. These groups are largely based in forests spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger states, utilizing these areas as launching points for attacks on rural communities.
The escalating violence has prompted increased military deployment to the region in recent years, yet attacks continue. The situation has likewise drawn international attention, including from the United States. In a controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered surprise airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, framing the violence as “persecution” of Christians, a characterization disputed by many experts.
The conflict in Nigeria has been ongoing for over a decade. Since 2009, the insurgency led by Boko Haram and the Daesh West Africa Province (ISWAP) has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and displaced two million people in the northeast, according to the United Nations. Legit.ng reports that Zamfara and other North-West states are being terrorised by bandits and other criminals.
The attack in Zamfara followed closely on the heels of attacks on seven villages in neighboring Kebbi State by the Lakurawa group, resulting in dozens of deaths, according to police and a confidential security report. The emergence of Lakurawa has further complicated the security landscape in the northwest, prompting state governments to bolster self-defense militias. Even as some researchers suggest a link between Lakurawa and Daesh in the Sahel, others remain skeptical.
Meanwhile, the “bandits” themselves, primarily motivated by financial gain, are reportedly strengthening their cooperation with other armed groups, exacerbating the cycle of violence. Despite the ongoing insecurity, the Zamfara State government recently allocated N1 billion (approximately $670,000 USD) to the construction of cemeteries across its 14 local councils, a grim indication of the anticipated continued loss of life. SaharaReporters noted this allocation in the state’s approved 2026 budget.
The Nigerian army has not yet issued a statement regarding the latest attack in Dutse Dan Ajiya, and it remains unclear what steps will be taken to address the escalating violence in Zamfara State.
