World
Deadly Attack in Northern Nigeria Leaves Dozens Dead
A UN security report details the killing of 30 people by armed groups in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
At least 30 people were killed Sunday evening in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, according to a United Nations security report cited by Reuters. The attack occurred at the Magami-Dansadou intersection, where gunmen ambushed travelers, killing civilians and leaving others wounded.
Zamfara is located in a region where local armed groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, as well as killings and looting. The UN report, released Monday, detailed the ambush but did not specify the identity of the attackers.
Military Denies Civilian Casualties in Airstrikes
Separately, Nigeria’s defense headquarters has denied reports of civilian deaths from recent airstrikes in neighboring Niger State. Major General Michael Onoga, a defense ministry spokesman, stated that the drone strikes, conducted overnight on May 9 and 10, targeted only militant positions in the villages of Katerma, Boko, Kusasu, and Kuduru in Shiroro district.
Onoga said the strikes were based on intelligence indicating that armed gangs—locally referred to as bandits—were gathering to plan attacks. He confirmed that at least 70 suspected militants were killed in Kusasu alone. Intelligence gathered after the raid showed surviving fighters regrouping, with over 200 motorcycles seen heading toward the nearby village of Zango.
The military’s denial came in response to Nigerian media reports claiming civilian casualties, highlighting ongoing concerns about the impact of air raids on local communities in conflict zones. Onoga said the army has ordered field units to investigate any reports of civilian harm.
Previous Civilian Toll Disputed
Local residents told Reuters that around 200 people were killed last month when military aircraft bombed a market in a village during a pursuit of Islamist militants in the northeast. The military has not confirmed that account.
