Gunmen kill 45 in northwest Nigeria

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) – Gunmen killed at least 45 people during deadly raids on six communities in Zamfara state of northwest Nigeria on Wednesday night.

Talking to Anadolu Agency by phone, Zamfara state police spokesman Muhammad Shehu confirmed the attacks but declined to give details about the casualties.

Women and children are reported missing while houses, shops as well as private and public buildings have been burned by the assailants in Magami district of Gusau local government area, Ibrahim Sidi Mohammed, a resident of the area, told Anadolu Agency.

According to local sources, the gunmen proceeded to another village called Kango and shot dead at least 11 people.

A resident, Halliru Bala, said the armed men also killed 13 people in Ruwan Dawa community along Gusau-Dansadau road. The village is 58 kilometers (36 miles) south of Gusau, the state capital.

“They also shot dead seven people at Madaba, two at Mairairayo, and five people at Arzikin Da communities,” Bala told Anadolu Agency.

“As I am talking to you, seven bodies had already been brought to Magami town and they would be buried this evening immediately after Iftar,” Bala said, adding most of those killed were the people who had gone to help the communities under attack.

The residents of Yar Doka village had deserted their homes after a deadly attack by armed men some months ago but were assaulted again just a day after they returned.

Northwestern Nigeria has been facing armed attacks by armed groups for a decade now. These groups attack villages, steal livestock and kidnap local people for ransom.

They have also stepped up attacks on schools, kidnapping students and teachers.

Almost 300 girls were abducted from a school in Zamfara state and later released in February.