Robbers Attack Zamfara villages, kill 23 (Babaric)

In Kano, A gang of robbers invaded two villages in northern Nigeria Monday in an apparent revenge attack and killed 23 people, slitting some residents’ throats and shooting others, a police source said.

“They went door-to-door shooting villagers and in some cases slitting their throats with knives,” the police source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.

“They killed 21 residents. They also moved to the next village … where they shot dead two other people. So far 23 villagers were killed in the attack.”

The first attack occurred in Dan-Gulbi village while the second was in Guru. Both are located in Zamfara state.

They were believed to be in revenge for killings of some of the gang members by villagers and local vigilante groups who grew tired of repeated robberies, the source said. Similar attacks have occurred in the past in the area.

A large number of people were also wounded, including a policeman. Some 80 attackers were said to have arrived by motorbike.