No fewer than 484 persons, including 271 children, have been displaced following a fresh attack by armed bandits on communities in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The humanitarian agency disclosed this in its latest flash report obtained by Saturday PUNCH, revealing that residents of Gamo Gidan Bita in Birnin Magaji Ward fled their homes after the June 15 attack and sought refuge in Ubandawaki, located in Magaji Gari Ward. The report was compiled under the organisation’s Displacement Tracking Matrix programme.
According to the assessment, the displaced population comprises 101 households, with women and girls accounting for approximately 60 per cent of those affected, while men and boys make up the remaining 40 per cent. The report highlighted the vulnerability of children, who constitute more than half of the displaced population.
The IOM noted that food, emergency shelter and essential non-food items were among the most urgent needs identified during the assessment. It stated that all affected households require immediate humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs and support their recovery.
The attack reportedly resulted in five casualties, including three fatalities and two injuries. Residents were forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods as the assailants invaded the community, further worsening the humanitarian situation in the area.
The latest incident adds to the growing displacement crisis in Nigeria’s North-West region. According to the report, more than 143,189 people have been displaced across the region between December 2025 and June 2026, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons to over 794,018.
The IOM attributed the persistent violence to a combination of factors, including long-standing tensions between farmers and herders, ethnic and religious differences, climate change, desertification and increasing pressure on limited natural resources. These challenges, it noted, continue to fuel conflict and instability across affected communities.
Humanitarian experts have called for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering and enhanced support for displaced populations. They stressed that addressing the root causes of insecurity remains essential to ending the cycle of violence and displacement.
As thousands continue to face uncertainty and hardship, stakeholders are urging government authorities and development partners to intensify efforts to provide relief, strengthen security and create conditions that will allow displaced families to safely return to their communities.
