Nigeria: Gunmen kill 26 people in Zamfara state

Event

Intercommunal clashes broke out in Zamfara state on Thursday, April 12. Local officials reported that suspected cattle thieves attacked two villages in the Anka local government area (LGA), killing at least 26 people. The victims are said to be gold miners from Kuru-Kuru and villagers from Jarkuku. According to initial reports, the gunmen arrived in Kuru-Kuru on motorcycles and attacked a mining site. When residents from Jarkuku gathered together to assist the victims, the gunmen ambushed them. Additional clashes are possible in the coming weeks.

Context

In late March, suspected cattle thieves conducted a similar attack near Bawar-Daji in the Anka LGA. At least 36 people were killed in the fighting.

Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria. Central and northern Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently reported that murder rates linked to ethnic violence in Nigeria are higher than those related to terrorism, also a major security concern in the country.

Advice

Individuals in Zamfara state are advised to remain vigilant and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.