Armed men have attacked villages in northwestern Nigeria’s Niger State, killing at least 20 people and abducting others. The attack occurred in Shiroro district, an area plagued by kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants. The gunmen invaded Bagna and Erena villages, killing security guards and destroying homes. Some villagers fled to nearby towns like Gwada, Zumba, and Galadima Kogo.

The Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, has condemned the attack, assuring that the state government is working with security agencies to intensify operations against criminal elements. The attack is part of a broader security crisis in the region, with President Bola Tinubu proposing to allow Nigeria’s 36 states to establish their own police forces to combat violence.