Nigeria: 20 villagers kidnapped in armed raid

By Adam Abu-bashal

ABUJA (AA) - At least 20 villagers in central Nigeria were abducted in an armed raid, local media reported Thursday.

In Niger state, gunmen on motorcycles raided Adagbi village in Shiroro district and opened fire.

After they kidnapped the villagers, mostly women, the remaining villagers abandoned their homes out of fear.

There were no reports of fatalities or injuries in the raid, while Niger police have yet to issue a statement on the incident.

Separately, 17 people were killed by gunmen on motorcycles in an attack in the Rijau region of Niger state, according to local media.

The attack also left many injured, reports said.

Local authorities confirmed the attack but remained silent on the death toll.

Niger Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello called on people to remain calm and said security forces were rushed to the region.

Recently, the country banned the use of motorbikes in some states due to attacks carried out on them.

The country’s northwest sees occasional clashes between the herder Fulani people -- one of the largest ethnic groups widely dispersed across West Africa -- and neighboring sedentary tribes.

The Fulani, who migrated to the south of the country to graze their animals, claim that farmers try to steal their animals and attack their people.

Armed groups sometimes take advantage of these conflicts and organize attacks.