Gunmen kill 23 in Nigeria's restive northwest

By Timothy Olanrewaju

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Gunmen killed at least 23 people in attacks on Nigeria's restive northwest Kaduna state, a local official said on Friday.

Armed men stormed Anguwar Danko and Kanawa, two remote communities in Birni Gwari local government area late Wednesday, shooting sporadically for almost an hour, said Yahaya Dan Salio, a legislator for the area in Kaduna legislative assembly.

"There were casualties following Wednesday’s night invasion in my constituency. So far, 23 people were confirmed killed," he told reporters.

The official said 19 people were killed in the village of Anguwar Danko, while there were four casualties in the village of Kanawa. He said the victims had been buried.

Abdullah Musa, who hails from Anguwar Danko, told Anadolu that the gunmen also abducted some community members during the raid. "We haven't seen my cousin since the attack and a few community members have also complained their relatives are missing," he said.

Attacks by bandits and armed groups including mass abduction of students are on the rise in Nigeria's northwest region.

In March, armed groups attacked at least two schools and two communities, and over 300 people including students were kidnapped.