Manny Ita
At least 162 people have been killed in a large-scale attack by gunmen in western Nigeria, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Tuesday, describing the incident as one of the deadliest assaults recorded in the country in recent months.
The Red Cross said armed attackers stormed several communities in the affected area, leaving scores dead and forcing many residents to flee their homes. A spokesperson for the organisation said initial figures were based on field reports from local volunteers and emergency responders, warning that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue.
“More than 160 people have been confirmed dead so far,” the Red Cross said, adding that many others were injured while homes and properties were destroyed during the assault. The organisation said its teams were providing emergency medical assistance, psychological support and relief materials to survivors.
Local residents told aid workers that the attackers arrived in large numbers and overwhelmed the communities before security forces could respond. Several villages were reportedly affected, with bodies recovered from homes, farms and surrounding areas after the attackers withdrew.
State authorities confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to the area to restore calm and track down those responsible for the attack. A senior government official said investigations were underway and pledged that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The Red Cross said the violence had displaced hundreds of people, many of whom were seeking refuge in neighbouring towns and makeshift shelters. “The humanitarian needs are enormous,” the organisation said, noting shortages of food, medical supplies and clean water.
The attack adds to growing concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Nigeria, where armed groups have carried out repeated assaults on rural communities despite ongoing military operations. Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued violence is deepening the country’s displacement and humanitarian crisis.
Authorities have yet to release an official casualty figure, but the Red Cross said it was continuing assessments on the ground and would update its figures as more information becomes available.
