Gunmen kill 17 farmers in attack in northwest Nigeria

Gunmen killed at least 17 farmers and wounded more than a dozen others as they worked in their fields in northwest Nigeria, in the latest in a series of deadly attacks across the region.

The assault took place at Goron Namaye in Zamfara state, one of several areas plagued by armed gangs. Such groups, often referred to locally as bandits, carry out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom and attacks on rural communities.

The gangs active in north-central and northwest Nigeria kidnap for ransom, levy illegal taxes on farming communities and engage in unlicensed mining. Their activities have made parts of the countryside dangerous for residents trying to farm and travel.

The wider insecurity in northern Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced millions over the years, according to the United Nations. Repeated attacks have strained the ability of farmers to work their land, raising concerns about food security in affected areas.

Nigerian authorities have faced sustained pressure to curb the violence, deploying security forces to the worst-hit states. The persistence of the attacks underscores the scale of the challenge in restoring stability to the region.