Gunmen killed 18 people in a village in Katsina state, northwestern Nigeria.
Many fighters arrived on motorcycles in the village of Tsauwa on Monday evening, shooting at residents, looting homes and setting homes on fire.
"The bandits [name given to these fighters in the region] killed 18 people in this attack and left one injured," said the spokesman for the local police.
“A resident is still missing.
A significant number of cattle were also stolen in the attack.
Nigeria: "cattle thieves" attack a village, killing 18 https://t.co/EfvqDDIYW7 pic.twitter.com/1Wk6KZFIaV
- Linfo.re (@Linfore) July 8, 2021
Students kidnapped in whole groups
According to local sources, the attack was a "punishment" against the villagers, who had refused to cooperate with armed groups in the area.
These "bandits" terrorize the populations of northwest and central Nigeria.
They attack villages, steal cattle and kidnap local personalities or travelers for ransom from the roads.
Recently, these groups have launched attacks on schools and universities, practicing mass kidnappings of students for ransom.
They demand sums of up to several hundred thousand dollars for each group.
On Monday, more than 100 high school students were kidnapped in Kaduna state, for example.
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Nigeria
Banditry