Gunmen kill 30 in Nigeria: police

At least 30 people were killed by gunmen who attacked a village in Nigeria's northwestern state of Zamfara, local police confirmed Tuesday.

A police spokesman in Zamfara, Mohammed Shehu, told Xinhua that Kware Village in the Shinkafi District was raided for several hours early Monday. The gunmen opened fire on residents and burned their homes.

"Thirty residents were killed in the Kware attack. I can confirm that to you," Shehu said.

Hundreds of motorbike-riding gunmen stormed the village to wreak the havoc, according to local people.

Locals gave a higher death toll of at least 35 people, confirming that many villagers fled for safety. Some others are still missing.

One survivor identified as Yunusa Lawal said the attack began when he heard voices of helpless women screaming for help and helpless children crying louder as they were stranded looking for their fleeing mothers.

Lawal said he heard leaders among the gunmen giving orders for killing anybody at sight.

Scores of residents including old ones and children who escaped the attack are taking refuge in the local government headquarters of Shinkafi, after trekking several kilometers to their destination.

Local police said it has launched an investigation into the attack.

Zamfara, as well as neighboring Kaduna State in Nigeria's northwest region, has witnessed a series of onslaughts by gunmen in recent months.

In early May 2018, about 100 people were abducted in just two days on a road near the border with Zamfara state. The situation has forced people in at least six villages in the area to abandon their homes.

Hundreds of people have been killed by armed bandits in Zamfara in 2018. The killings have continued despite the deployment of thousands of security personnel including soldiers as well as air force personnel and equipment to the state.

(Cover image: A damaged house in the village of Bakin Kogi after the attack, in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria,February 24, 2017. /VCGPhoto )

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)