Nigeria — North-central & North-west Flash Report 161 (25 - 31 March 2024)

On 27 March 2024, armed bandits attacked the community of Mutunji in Maru ward of Maru LGA in Zamfara State. There were no reports of injuries and fatalities. The attack displaced 230 individuals in 42 households to Tsunami community in Rijya ward of Gusau LGA of Zamfara State. The displaced individuals included 129 children and 101 women. The men in the community decided to stay back. 
Of all the needs identified, food and shelter were the most prevalent. Other needs included security and non-food items (NFI).
Following these events, DTM (Displacement Tracking Matrix) field staff conducted rapid assessments to inform the humanitarian community and Government/partners, and to enable a targeted response. 
Nigeria’s North-central and North-west zones are afflicted with a multi-dimensional crisis. Long-standing tensions between ethnic and religious groups often result in attacks and banditry or hirabah. These attacks involve kidnapping and grand larceny along major highways by criminal groups. During the past years, the crisis accelerated and has resulted in widespread displacement across the North-central and North-west regions.