Nigeria: Armed attack in the north-west, at least 30 dead

The attacked area is only 75 kilometers away from the state capital of Sokoto

Gunmen killed at least 30 people in northwestern Nigeria. Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, reported today that gunmen raided the Goronyo community on Sunday evening to carry out the all-night assault. The attacked area is only 75 kilometers away from the state capital of Sokoto, unlike past attacks that have occurred in more remote areas. Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, chief of staff of the Nigerian army recently commissioned special military operations to keep the growing violence in the country under control. These operations, in addition to extreme measures such as a telecommunications blockade and curfew, have not stopped armed groups from attacking communities. Gunmen often kill dozens of residents in areas with few security forces.

In Sokoto, one of the hardest-hit states where bandits have taken advantage of the vast areas of land that are not patrolled along the border with the neighboring country of Niger, residents told the Associated Press that some attacks are not reported until days or weeks after they occurred. Children and women have also been targeted in the violence. According to Unicef, gunmen often kidnap women and have kidnapped more than 1,400 students in the past year. It is a “very difficult time” for Nigeria, said the governor of Sokoto, adding that the country is “plagued by many security challenges in the area, in particular banditry, kidnapping and other associated crimes”. It has been difficult for the government to stop the attacks because gunmen often outnumber Nigerian security personnel in the affected villages and are even better equipped, according to Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Group.