A series of dawn attacks by gunmen on motorcycles has resulted in the deaths of dozens of people across three villages in north-western Nigeria.

According to reports obtained by AFP, armed individuals carried out fatal shootings and throat cuttings, set homes ablaze, and took an unspecified number of people hostage in Niger state.

These attacks, which occurred on Saturday morning, are situated near the location of a suspected jihadist massacre that took place earlier this month, claiming over 100 lives in a similar style of assault.

For years, armed groups known as bandits have been responsible for attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria, with a notable surge in reports from the western and central regions in recent times.

In the early morning hours, bandits launched an attack on the village of Tunga-Makeri.

Wasiu Abiodun, a spokesperson for the Niger State police, informed AFP that six fatalities were confirmed in Tunga-Makeri.

Abiodun added that several houses were torched and an unspecified number of individuals were taken captive during the incident.

The majority of the casualties were reported in the nearby village of Konkoso, which was the second to be attacked.

Witnesses told AFP that nearly all the homes in Konkoso were reduced to ashes, and four women were abducted by the bandits.

Following the attack on Konkoso, the bandits proceeded to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and claimed one life, according to eyewitness accounts.

Reuters reported a death toll of approximately 32 across the three villages, while AFP put the number at a minimum of 46; the possibility of additional attacks in nearby villages remains unclear, and the toll may rise further.

A security report cited by AFP indicated that the bandits arrived on 41 motorcycles, with each vehicle carrying two or three men.

Nigeria's leaders face mounting pressure to address the issue of violence, as jihadist groups remain active in the north-west and separatist insurgents operate in the south-east.

On Christmas Day, the US conducted strikes targeting Islamist militants in Nigeria's northern Sokoto state, with President Donald Trump warning of potential further action "if they continue to kill Christians".

Organisations monitoring political violence in Nigeria have noted that many victims of jihadist violence are, in fact, Muslim.

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As dawn broke over the desert, YouTuber Jimmy Williams observed hundreds of his subscribers flocking to his online chat room, all eager to discuss the latest developments in a high-profile case.

With his laptop perched on his knees and his iPhone illuminated by a ring light, Williams dedicates several hours daily to analyzing the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, sharing his findings with a rapidly expanding audience of true crime enthusiasts.

On 1 February, Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home, with authorities suspecting she was taken against her will in the early morning hours.

Williams is among numerous curious onlookers and amateur investigators who have converged on the area, drawn by the mystery surrounding Guthrie's disappearance.

The influx of spectators has transformed a quiet, mid-sized city popular with retirees into a global media sensation, captivating audiences worldwide.

Despite ongoing investigations, police have yet to identify any suspects in Guthrie's abduction, prompting her daughter, Today show presenter Savannah Guthrie, to appeal to the public for assistance in locating her mother.

As a familiar face on US morning television, Savannah Guthrie has found herself at the intersection of hope and uncertainty, a position she has often witnessed in her interviewees.

This time, however, the roles are reversed, and instead of posing questions, Savannah Guthrie is awaiting answers about her mother's disappearance.

Morning television programs often foster a sense of intimacy between hosts and their audience, frequently focusing on human-interest stories that resonate with viewers.

In November, Savannah Guthrie had invited viewers into her mother's home as part of a Today Show segment, a gesture that now serves as a poignant reminder of her mother's absence.

Kelly Himes, a resident living near Nancy Guthrie's home in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains, felt compelled to pay her respects by stopping to say a prayer and leaving flowers at the end of the driveway, a gesture echoed by many in the community.

Himes shared her thoughts with the BBC, noting that Nancy Guthrie's age, height, and hair resemble those of her own mother, making her disappearance feel deeply personal and relatable.

Savannah Guthrie's celebrity status has had a dual impact on the search for her mother, generating unprecedented attention and resources while also sparking intense speculation and false leads.

Two weeks after Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, investigators announced the discovery of several gloves, with the closest one found approximately two miles from her home.

The sheriff's department clarified that reports of a glove being found inside or on the property of Nancy Guthrie's home were inaccurate, providing a necessary correction to the narrative.

For Williams' growing audience, speculation surrounding the case only serves to heighten its intrigue and fascination.

Since Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, Williams' YouTube channel, Dollyvision, has gained over 8,000 new subscribers, a testament to the public's interest in the case.

Williams described the interest in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance as "massive," reflecting the widespread attention the case has received.

According to Williams, the nature of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance defies traditional kidnapping scenarios, instead embodying a "new age" of crime characterized by unfamiliar patterns and methods.

The era of ransom demands made from cut-out magazine letters appears to be a relic of the past, replaced by more sophisticated and elusive tactics.

The advent of secure servers, secret IP addresses, and untraceable Bitcoin accounts has transformed the landscape of kidnapping, but former FBI hostage negotiator Chip Massey remains confident that Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers will be apprehended.

Referencing the video footage of a masked individual on Nancy Guthrie's doorstep before her disappearance, Massey believes that someone will recognize the suspect based on their behavior or body language.

Massey noted that the attention surrounding this case is unparalleled, and while a mask can conceal a face, it cannot hide a person's identity entirely.

The widespread distribution of missing person flyers featuring Nancy Guthrie's photo, combined with highway billboards promoting the FBI's tip line, has made the case impossible to ignore, even for those who do not follow the news, with the White House confirming that the FBI will allocate its "full resources" to the investigation.

Massey observed that the immense public engagement in the search for Nancy Guthrie will ultimately make it challenging for the suspect to evade detection, as the scrutiny will lead to mistakes and, ultimately, capture.

As yellow ribbons adorn the trees surrounding Nancy Guthrie's home, the passing days without news of her whereabouts are gradually replacing hope with a deepening sense of unease.