Bandit Attack Displaces 484 in Zamfara, Including 271 Children

On June 15, 2026, a bandit attack in Gummi Local Government Area, Zamfara State, resulted in the displacement of 484 individuals, including 271 children, according to a report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The assessment revealed that 101 households were affected, with children making up nearly half of those forced to flee.

The report indicated that the displaced population included 129 women and 84 men, with female individuals accounting for 60% of the displaced. The attack is part of a persistent pattern of violence fueled by long-standing tensions between farmer and herder communities in the northwest region of Nigeria.

The IOM's rapid assessment, conducted on June 16, identified urgent needs for food, shelter, and non-food items among the displaced. This incident adds to the ongoing crisis in the northwest, where insecurity has led to significant displacement, with Zamfara recording the highest number of kidnappings in the country from July 2024 to June 2025.