Nigeria witnessed a bloody weekend of violence that claimed at least 102 lives in what officials and security analysts describe as another grim reminder of the country’s worsening insecurity. Fatal clashes between insurgents, bandits, villagers, and security forces were reported in Borno, Sokoto and Katsina states.
Katsina: Bandits Kill Seven in Night Raid
In Katsina State, seven people were killed when armed bandits stormed Magajin Wando village between 11 p.m. and midnight on Friday. The Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs said the attack was initially repelled by the Community Watch Corps (CWC), a volunteer security outfit. However, the bandits ambushed the corps members as they were evacuating the injured to hospital.
A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued, leaving several suspected bandits dead. The CWC vehicle was later set ablaze, though the operatives escaped unharmed. State authorities commended the bravery of the corps and vowed to work with the military and police to dismantle the criminal networks terrorising northwestern communities.
Sokoto: Villagers Kill 15 Bandits, Rescue Hostages
In Sokoto State, residents of Shagari and Bimasa villages in Tureta Local Government Area mounted a rare counteroffensive against bandits who had laid siege to their communities. In a gun battle that lasted several hours, the villagers reportedly killed 15 bandits and freed dozens of kidnapped victims.
The bandits, forced into retreat, abandoned large herds of stolen cattle which were recovered by the locals. Community leaders hailed the victory as a turning point in the fight against rural banditry, though they urged the government to strengthen security to avert reprisals.
“We will never allow bandits to dictate our lives again,” declared a youth leader in Shagari.
Borno: Boko Haram Kills 63 in Darajamal
The deadliest incident of the weekend was in Borno State, where Boko Haram insurgents massacred 63 people in Darajamal, near Bama. The victims included five soldiers and 58 civilians, many of them recently resettled internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who visited the community on Saturday, described the killings as a brutal attack on vulnerable people striving to rebuild their lives. “It is very sad. This community was settled a few months ago, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night,” he said.
Zulum confirmed the casualty figures and called for the immediate deployment of newly trained Forest Guards to reinforce the overstretched military. Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, condemned the massacre as “a crime against humanity.”
Many residents remain missing following the attack, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.
Nationwide Concerns
The surge of violence underscores the multifaceted security crises confronting Nigeria — from Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast to banditry and mass abductions in the northwest.
Security experts warn that without urgent reinforcements and coordinated community protection initiatives, the cycle of attacks, reprisals and mass casualties will continue to destabilise rural areas and deepen humanitarian crises.
