Gunmen kill at least 29 in Nigeria village attack, children abducted in separate incident

At least 29 people have reportedly been killed after armed men attacked Guyaku village in Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, authorities and media reports said.

The assault, which lasted several hours, left homes destroyed and forced residents to flee.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited the community on Monday and expressed condolences over the killings, according to Al Jazeera.

“My heart breaks for the people of Guyaku,” he said. “This act of cowardice is an affront to our humanity and will not go unpunished.”

He said the state would intensify security operations and continue supporting military and local vigilante groups to address insecurity in the region.

A regional affiliate of Islamic State (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack via social media, although authorities have not independently confirmed which group carried out the assault.

The incident occurred alongside a separate attack in north-central Nigeria, where armed men stormed an orphanage and abducted 23 children.

Authorities said 15 of the abducted children have since been rescued, while operations continue to secure the release of the remaining eight.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, which comes amid a rise in kidnappings for ransom across parts of Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has faced criticism over its response to insecurity, although officials say victims of violence include people from different religious backgrounds.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project shows that of 1,923 recorded attacks on civilians between January and November 2025, only a small proportion specifically targeted Christians.

The United States has also increased security support to Nigeria, including air strikes against ISIL-linked fighters and training assistance for local forces.

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