Human Rights Agency strongly condemns the attacks that killed dozens of people this week in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state. Northwest and central Nigeria have for several years been the scene of criminal activity by mass murderers who attack, loot and kidnap residents, stealing their livestock and burning their homes.

Human Rights Agency strongly condemns the attacks that killed dozens of people this week in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state. Hundreds of armed men raided ten villages in Anka and Bukkuyum districts between Wednesday and Thursday, shooting at residents, looting and burning buildings. AFP reported at least 140 people who had died in recent days.

Northwest and central Nigeria have for several years been the scene of criminal activity by mass murderers who attack, loot and kidnap residents, burning their homes and stealing their livestock.

In addition to the fight against banditry, the Nigerian army is deployed on multiple fronts, especially in the northeast, which has been the victim of a terrorist insurgency for years, and in the southeast, agitated by separatist movements. Since december 2020, criminal gangs have also started targeting schools, kidnapping more than 1,400 students and sparking international outrage.