In a grim escalation of violence, two separate attacks attributed to jihadist groups in northeastern and northwestern Nigeria have resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, as confirmed by military sources and local residents.
The first incident took place on Thursday, when militants affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched an assault on Malam Fatori, a town located on the border with Niger. Armed with vehicles equipped with machine guns, the attackers targeted a camp for internally displaced persons around 0120 GMT. Reports indicate that at least 11 people were killed during the onslaught, while sources linked with a multinational military coalition stated that the situation is now under military control. Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyo Osoba from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which comprises troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, confirmed that the troops have been actively repelling ISWAP’s consistent assaults since the group’s emergence in 2016.
Eyewitness accounts describe the attackers as having set fire to a hospital and several government buildings in the area before retreating. Anti-jihadist militia member Abor Mallum, who was involved in assisting the military during the attack, indicated that about 20 other individuals were injured and subsequently transported to a hospital in Bosso, Niger. The town of Malam Fatori has a troubled history, having initially been seized by Boko Haram in 2014 before military forces reclaimed control the following year.
In a separate attack occurring more than 1,000 kilometers away in Sokoto state, militants from the Lakurawa group killed 17 people on Wednesday. This attack transpired while villagers were preparing for afternoon prayers, with many of the deceased reportedly engaged in agricultural work on the fringes of the village. Local resident Muhammad Bello conveyed that the attack was suspected to be a retaliation against the community for recent vigilantism, where three members of the group were killed during an earlier raid.
The attackers reportedly entered Kwallajiya village, firing indiscriminately while setting homes, farmlands, and telecommunications infrastructure ablaze, as detailed by an imam of the village mosque. Although Sokoto state police spokesman Ahmed Rufa’i verified the occurrence of the attack, he did not provide a death toll, citing a lack of comprehensive information.
Lakurawa, a group that comprises militants from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has established a presence in Nigeria, leading to increased insecurity in the region. This group is known for its violent tactics, including livestock rustling and imposing its strict interpretation of Sharia law on local populations. Their activities have further exacerbated the ongoing challenges faced by northwest Nigeria, which has been grappling with threats from various criminal elements and jihadist factions.
Both incidents underscore a persistent climate of violence and instability faced by Nigeria, where years of jihadist insurgency have led to more than 40,000 fatalities and around two million individuals displaced. The recent attacks highlight the dire need for effective strategies to address the root causes of these violent outbreaks and enhance security in affected regions.
