Gunmen kill 20+ in new attack on Zamfara mining village

A deadly assault on a mining village in Nigeria’s Zamfara State has left over 20 people dead, with survivors describing a harrowing scene of gunfire and chaos.

The attack took place on Thursday afternoon in Gobirawa Chali, located in the Maru local government area of the state, an area long troubled by violent gang activity.

Eyewitnesses said the armed men arrived in large numbers and began shooting at miners working in the village.

Ismail Hassan, a resident, said the attackers came in their hundreds and opened fire without warning.

"Gunmen in their hundreds opened fire on miners on Thursday afternoon," he told Reuters.

He added that the shooting quickly escalated into a violent exchange, leaving many dead.

According to another villager, Isah Ibrahim, the community was still reeling from the aftermath of the attack. “We have recovered 21 bodies following the attack,” he said. “Several were injured.”

Rights group Amnesty International also confirmed the deadly incident, stating that the gunmen went house-to-house in Gobirawa Chali, killing over 20 residents. The organisation condemned the violence and raised concerns about the continuing threat such groups pose to local communities.

Zamfara State, in Nigeria’s northwest, has for years faced rising insecurity caused by armed gangs who engage in kidnapping, robbery, and violent attacks.

These groups often strike remote villages, abducting residents for ransom and killing those who resist. In recent years, their activities have grown more violent and widespread.

No official motive has yet been established for Thursday’s attack, but it fits a disturbing pattern of violence linked to criminal groups operating in the region.

These gangs are known to target mining villages, security forces, and even schools, often overwhelming the under-resourced local law enforcement.

Efforts to contact the Zamfara State Police for comments were unsuccessful, as the police spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries.

The attack highlights the ongoing challenge faced by Nigeria’s security forces, who are battling violence on several fronts across the country.

The military is stretched thin, dealing with multiple crises including a long-running Islamist insurgency in the northeast, deadly clashes between farmers and herders in the central regions, and separatist unrest in the south.

In the northwest, gang violence has displaced thousands and disrupted daily life, especially in rural areas where residents are left vulnerable due to a limited security presence.

The forests surrounding these communities provide cover for the armed groups, making it harder for authorities to trace or intercept them.

The village of Gobirawa Chali is one of many in Zamfara that has suffered from this cycle of violence.

The community now joins a growing list of victims, with grieving families left to pick up the pieces.

With little official protection, many residents have begun living in fear, unsure when the next attack might come.

Local leaders and rights organisations have called on the Nigerian government to step up efforts to secure these regions and bring an end to the killings.