Dozens of people were killed in a series of violent early-morning raids across three villages in north-western Nigeria, leaving homes destroyed and communities shaken.
The attacks, carried out by armed men on motorcycles, also saw several people abducted, according to local authorities and witnesses.
The first assault targeted the village of Tunga-Makeri, where residents were shot or attacked with knives, and several houses were set on fire. Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State police spokesperson, told AFP that six people were killed in Tunga-Makeri.
"Some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted," he said.
Most casualties were reported in the neighbouring village of Konkoso. Witnesses said nearly all homes there were burned, and four women were kidnapped during the attack.
The bandits then moved to the village of Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person, according to residents.
Reuters reported that around 32 people were killed across the three villages, while AFP put the number at at least 46. Officials have not yet confirmed the full death toll, and reports suggest that more attacks could have taken place in nearby communities.
A security source cited by AFP said the attackers came on "41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men".
These incidents follow a suspected jihadist massacre earlier this month in the same region, where more than 100 people were killed in a similar manner.
Bandit attacks, including kidnappings and raids, have been a persistent problem in Nigeria for years, but reports indicate an increase in violence in the western and central regions recently.
Nigeria’s government faces mounting pressure to address the growing insecurity, with jihadist groups operating in the north-west and separatist insurgents active in the south-east.
The United States has previously taken action against Islamist militants in the region, including Christmas Day airstrikes in Sokoto state. President Donald Trump warned of further attacks "if they continue to kill Christians".
Organisations monitoring political violence in Nigeria note that many of the victims of jihadist attacks are Muslims, reflecting the complex religious and ethnic dynamics of the conflict.
