12 people burned alive by unknown attackers in northwest Nigeria

By Timothy Olanrewaju

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) – Unknown gunmen attacked a small village in Kaduna State in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, and during their rampage, they set their homes on fire, burning 12 people alive and injuring 15 more with burns.

Some gunmen stormed Gindin Dutse Makyali village in Kajuru area of Kaduna State, and shot sporadically into houses, local community youth leader Isa Yusuf told Anadolu over the phone.

"There was a lot of firing, and we were scared to come out of our homes. They set fire to numerous houses. Twelve people were burned in their homes, and about 15 were seriously injured," he said.

The gunmen burned down 17 houses, and 15 injured people were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, he added.

The attack is one in a series of violence in the area allegedly carried out by herders in frequent clashes with farmers over access to water and cattle grazing around farmlands.

Nigeria's northwest region is predominantly a farming region, with occasional nomad movement.

Residents believe the attackers were herders who had been linked to previous attacks in the area since 2021.

However, the police said their investigation into the perpetrators has not yet been completed to ascertain who was involved in the rampage and killing of 12 innocent people.

Mansir Hassan, a police spokesperson for Kaduna State, confirmed the attack to Anadolu, saying the police have deployed special forces to the area to "prevent further attacks and restore confidence" in the locals.

The country's northwest is also plagued by banditry and widespread kidnapping for ransom.