Armed men killed at least 12 people and abducted an unspecified number of women and children during an overnight attack on a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state, residents said on Sunday.
The attackers entered Lajinge village at around 11 p.m. on Saturday and continued their assault until about 3 a.m. the following morning, according to local witnesses.
One resident said six members of the same family were burned to death after the gunmen set their home on fire.
“They killed at least 12 people, injured four others and abducted women and children after stealing a large number of livestock,” resident Auwal Hassan told Reuters by telephone.
Police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai said authorities had opened an investigation and would release further information later.
Northwestern Nigeria has been repeatedly targeted by heavily armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, who raid rural communities, steal livestock and kidnap residents for ransom.
The latest attack came one week after gunmen killed at least 24 farmers in neighbouring Zamfara state.