Key facts
- At least 24 farmers were killed and several others wounded in an attack in Zamfara state, Nigeria.
- The attack occurred in the Sauna district of the Talata Mafara local government area.
- The bandits, riding motorcycles, arrived without encountering security forces.
- The incident lasted for approximately three hours and involved the rustling of livestock.
Armed bandits on motorcycles killed at least 24 farmers and wounded several others in an attack on remote farming villages in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state. Residents reported that the attackers stormed communities in the Sauna district of the Talata Mafara local government area on Tuesday, opening fire on people working in their fields. One resident stated, "They killed at least 24 innocent farmers. We are still counting the losses." Zamfara state is a focal point of a security crisis in Nigeria's northwest, characterized by frequent raids by armed gangs known as bandits, who also engage in kidnapping for ransom and livestock theft. Residents noted that the gunmen traveled nearly 50 km along the Mayanchi-Anka highway before reaching their target without encountering security forces. Another resident mentioned the attack lasted for about three hours, during which an unspecified number of livestock were rustled, and several people were wounded.