Sokoto: At least 12 people have been killed and an unspecified number of women and children abducted during a brutal attack by gunmen in the village of Lajinge, located in Nigeria's Sokoto State. The assault began late Saturday night and continued until the early hours of Sunday morning.According to Russia Today, the unidentified armed men launched the attack around 11 PM, targeting residents and causing widespread panic. Witnesses reported that six members of a single family were killed when their home was set ablaze. The attackers also injured four others and made off with numerous livestock, alongside abducting women and children, as detailed by local resident Auwal Hassan.Sokoto police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai confirmed that an investigation is underway and promised further updates as more information becomes available. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of a broader pattern of violence in the region.The northwest region of Nigeria has consistently been plagued by attacks from heavily armed groups known locally as bandits. These groups frequently raid rural communities, abduct residents for ransom, steal livestock, and extort farmers. Despite efforts by Nigeria's government, including a nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu last November, the security situation remains dire.The country has been grappling with an increase in mass abductions, highlighted by incidents such as the kidnapping of 39 pupils and seven teachers in Oyo State in May, and previous abductions from schools in Kebbi and Niger States. To combat this, the government recently announced an expanded Safe Schools framework aimed at enhancing security measures.In a related incident on Sunday, the Nigerian Army reported thwarting a terrorist infiltration of a military base in Zamfara State, resulting in the deaths of an army and a police officer, with nine civilians rescued. The efforts underscore the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in the region.Internationally, N igeria has received support from the United States, which deployed troops for training and technical assistance earlier this year. However, despite these efforts, attacks and abductions persist, prompting calls for solutions that address the root causes of the violence. Critics, including Samuel Memeh of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, argue that foreign military assistance alone is insufficient to resolve the complex security issues facing Nigeria.