Gunmen have killed dozens of people in a series of coordinated attacks on rural communities in central and northern Nigeria, as authorities confirmed the presence of U.S. military personnel in the country to support counterterrorism efforts. The deadliest assault took place in villages in Kwara State, near Nigeria’s border with Niger, where armed attackers stormed communities late Tuesday, opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze. Initial official figures placed the death toll at several dozen, but humanitarian workers and local leaders later said the number of victims could exceed 150 as bodies continued to be recovered from the surrounding bush. Many residents fled their homes during the violence, while others remain missing, according to the Red Cross and local officials.
The attacks came amid growing insecurity across multiple regions of Nigeria. On the same day, gunmen killed at least 20 people in Katsina State in a separate incident, underlining the spread of violence linked to armed groups operating across the country’s north and central belt. Nigerian authorities and security analysts have blamed a mix of extremist factions and heavily armed criminal groups, some of which are believed to have links to Islamic State affiliates, though investigations into responsibility are ongoing. Human rights organisations have criticised what they describe as a lack of adequate security presence in vulnerable rural areas, warning that communities remain exposed to further attacks.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the killings and ordered the immediate deployment of additional troops to affected areas, including a new military operation aimed at restoring control and protecting civilians. The Nigerian army said forces were pursuing the attackers and conducting search-and-rescue operations, while state governments pledged assistance to displaced residents. As pressure mounted on the federal government to contain the violence, Nigerian officials also confirmed that a small contingent of U.S. military personnel had been deployed to the country at Nigeria’s request. The deployment is intended to provide intelligence, training and advisory support rather than combat operations, officials said, declining to disclose details of troop numbers or locations.
The confirmation of U.S. military involvement highlights growing international concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, which includes a long-running insurgency in the northeast, widespread banditry in the northwest, and escalating attacks in central regions. Analysts say the latest killings underscore the scale of the challenge facing Nigerian authorities as communities continue to bear the brunt of armed violence despite repeated military offensives and security reforms.
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