At least 50 people were killed and several women and children abducted after armed men launched a brutal raid on a village in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, local officials told Reuters.
The attackers stormed Tungan Dutse village from the evening of 19 February 2026, continuing into the early hours of the next day, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee, lawmaker Hamisu A. Faru said. Survivors described the assailants moving from one settlement to another, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death.
Local authorities confirmed that bodies were being prepared for a mass burial, though the exact number of abducted villagers had not yet been determined. Traditional leaders and government representatives were still accounting for missing residents.
The attack underscores the persistent insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups — often labelled “bandits” — have targeted rural communities with kidnappings, killings and arson for years. The violence has driven many families from their homes and disrupted farming and travel in the region.
Nigerian security forces have been deployed to the region, but officials acknowledged the challenges posed by rugged terrain and poorly accessible roads, which often delay rapid response. The assault drew condemnation from civil society and human rights advocates, who warned that continued violence threatens stability and civilian safety in Nigeria’s northwest.
