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Authorities in Nigeria have confirmed that over 50 people have been killed and many more are missing after armed gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on a village in the country’s northwestern region.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Nigeria has long struggled with a worsening security crisis caused by terrorist organizations primarily operating in its northern regions and the wider Sahel. Groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS tend to be the biggest issues, as they move easily through porous borders in the Sahel, enabling them to intensify attacks on both Muslim and Christian communities. High-profile killings of Christians have drawn international attention, prompting criticism and warnings from President Trump, who has accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect religious minorities and threatened US intervention in response.

What’s going on now: At least 50 people were killed in an overnight attack on the village of Tungan Dutse in Zamfara State, where heavily armed men arrived on motorcycles in the evening and continued attacking residents until roughly 4 AM. Witnesses and local officials said the gunmen moved from house to house, setting buildings on fire and shooting people who attempted to flee. By morning, dozens lay dead, and entire sections of the village had been reduced to ash.

In addition to the fatalities, multiple women and children were abducted during the raid, though authorities say the exact number remains unclear as local leaders compile lists of the missing. Survivors reported that more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men were spotted in the area a day before the attack, and warnings were allegedly relayed to security forces, but no preventive action was taken.

The massacre follows a string of other deadly attacks in northwestern Nigeria. Just days earlier, at least 46 people were killed in raids in Niger State’s Borgu area, including a particularly brutal assault in the village of Konkoso, where dozens were shot or had their throats slit. In a separate incident in Kebbi State, police blamed Lakurawa militants who reportedly crossed from neighboring Sokoto State for a mass-casualty attack.

As of now, no group has formally claimed responsibility for the Zamfara killings, though similar attacks in the region have frequently been attributed to armed bandit networks and militant factions operating across porous state borders.

The latest violence comes as the United States has expanded its military footprint in Nigeria. Roughly 100 US troops recently arrived in the country to provide training, intelligence sharing, and technical support to Nigerian forces as part of counterterrorism cooperation. US officials have stressed that the personnel are not engaged in direct combat but are assisting Nigerian-led operations aimed at curbing insurgent and militant activity.