Northwest Nigeria bandit raids kill dozens in Katsina and Zamfara

Heavily armed bandits carried out a series of raids on rural communities in northwest Nigeria in June 2026. In Katsina State, the Sayaya community in Matazu LGA was attacked in the early hours of June 25, leaving seven villagers dead.

In Zamfara State, multiple villages were hit. Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Tungar Baure village in Talata Mafara district, killing 17 farmers and abducting an unknown number. Earlier in the month, a similar raid in the neighbouring Maradun district killed another 17 farmers. A later attack in the Talata Mafara area of Zamfara killed at least 15 people. Local officials and community leaders have repeatedly called for the deployment of troops and permanent security outposts, citing the persistent threat to farmers and the risk of worsening food insecurity.

The wave of violence underscores the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s north‑west, where bandit groups, sometimes linked to jihadist networks, continue to target farming communities that resist paying extortion levies.