The African Union (AU) and the Federal Government of Somalia issued strong condemnations on Monday, February 23, 2026, over a brutal attack by armed bandits in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara State that claimed the lives of at least 50 civilians and saw numerous women and children abducted. The assault, which targeted the remote village of Tungan Dutse, has once again highlighted the persistent and devastating insecurity gripping Nigeria's northwest region.
In an official statement released by the AU Commission, Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed the continental body's "full solidarity" with the government and people of Nigeria. He conveyed "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims and described the attack as a grave violation of human rights and a serious threat to peace, security, and stability across the continent. "The African Union unequivocally rejects terrorism and violent extremism, particularly when directed against vulnerable civilians, including women and children," the statement read.
Youssouf called for the "immediate, safe, and unconditional" release of all abducted individuals and urged intensified, coordinated regional and international action to safeguard civilian populations and prevent recurrence of such atrocities. He reaffirmed the AU's "unwavering support" for Nigeria's ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and build lasting peace, emphasizing the need for collective resolve against the spread of violent extremism and criminality.
Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a parallel statement extending solidarity to Nigeria and offering condolences to the bereaved families. Mogadishu echoed the AU's demand for the "immediate and unconditional" release of all abductees and expressed backing for Nigerian authorities in pursuing justice against the perpetrators. "Africa must remain united against terrorism and in the protection of civilians," the ministry declared, underscoring the shared continental imperative to confront such threats.
The attack unfolded over Thursday night into Friday morning, February 19–20, 2026, in Tungan Dutse, a rural community in Zamfara State's Gusau Local Government Area. According to survivor accounts and preliminary security reports, dozens of gunmen arrived on motorcycles, surrounded the village, set multiple homes ablaze, and opened fire on fleeing residents. The assault left at least 50 people dead—many of them shot while attempting to escape—and resulted in the abduction of an undetermined number of women and children. Local officials and humanitarian groups have described the scene as chaotic, with bodies scattered across the village and several structures reduced to ashes.
Zamfara State lies at the heart of Nigeria's northwest geopolitical zone, a region long tormented by banditry. Armed criminal gangs—commonly referred to as "bandits"—operate from remote forest bases, engaging in mass kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, village raids, and extortion. These groups often overlap with jihadist factions such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) splinter elements, though most attacks in Zamfara are attributed to non-ideological criminal networks seeking profit and territorial control. The violence has displaced hundreds of thousands, devastated local agriculture and trade, and severely undermined food security in an already vulnerable area.
Nigeria's federal government has responded with repeated military deployments, including large-scale operations involving the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and police. Special task forces have conducted clearance missions in bandit strongholds, while community vigilantes and local informants have been integrated into some efforts. The United States has provided technical assistance, intelligence sharing, and training support through programs aimed at countering terrorism and transnational crime. Despite these measures, critics argue that root causes—widespread poverty, youth unemployment, weak governance, proliferation of small arms, and porous borders with neighboring Niger—continue to fuel the cycle of violence.
The Tungan Dutse massacre has drawn renewed domestic and international attention to the human cost of insecurity in Nigeria's northwest. Rights groups and civil society organizations have called for improved early-warning systems, enhanced community protection mechanisms, and greater investment in development programs to address underlying drivers of conflict. The abductions, in particular, evoke painful memories of previous mass kidnappings, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls case and repeated school abductions in the northwest, which have spotlighted the vulnerability of women and children.
As search and rescue operations continue in Zamfara, with security forces combing surrounding forests for abducted victims, the AU and Somalia's condemnations serve as a reminder of the broader continental stake in Nigeria's stability. With West Africa facing overlapping security challenges—from jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea—the attack underscores the urgent need for strengthened regional cooperation, intelligence fusion, and sustained political will to protect civilians and dismantle criminal networks.
Nigeria's leadership has vowed to intensify operations and bring the perpetrators to justice. President Bola Tinubu's administration has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to restoring peace across all regions, though the persistence of such deadly incidents continues to test public confidence and strain security resources. As condolences pour in and calls for action grow, the focus remains on securing the release of the abducted, supporting grieving communities, and preventing further bloodshed in one of Africa's most volatile regions.
