Bandits kill 40 people in reprisal attacks in northwest Nigeria: Official

By Olanrewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Suspected bandits have killed at least 40 people in reprisal attacks on some communities in northwest Nigeria, a local official and the police said Monday.

Bashar Kalenjeni, a former administrative head of the Tangaza local government area of Sokoto state, told Anadolu that 35 victims of the attack were buried over the weekend. He said five more corpses were discovered on Monday, a day after the attack.

"We buried 35 on Sunday, but we have discovered five more bodies from the bush and river today," said Kalenjeni.

He said police and military personnel have been assigned to the area to protect the survivors.

The attacks occurred in six villages on Sunday night and lasted until the early hours of Monday, survivors told Anadolu.

Ahmed Rufai, a police spokesman in Sokoto, said armed men on 20 motorcycles stormed Raka, Bilingawa, Raka Dutse, Jaba, Dabagi and Tsalewa villages to avenge the beating of their kinsmen in other communities.

"This happened after vigilante members from Raka and Bilingawa went to Azam village to warn them, and as a result, they ended beating up some villagers," said Rufai.

Armed attacks have escalated in the country's northwest region since 2020.