Gunmen Kill Six Villagers In Nigeria's North: Police

Gunmen raided three villages in northern Nigeria's Katsina state, killing six persons, a police spokesman said Monday

Kano, Nigeria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jul, 2019 ) :Gunmen raided three villages in northern Nigeria's Katsina state, killing six persons, a police spokesman said Monday.

The black-clad group, riding on motorcycles, attacked Makers, Dan Sabau and Pawwa villages in Kankara district late Sunday, firing guns and rocket-propelled grenades, Gambo Isah told AFP.

"Six people from the attacked villages were killed but we killed many of the bandits in a shootout that lasted for more than an hour," Isah added.

He said police were combing the bushes for the bodies of the assailants.

Cattle rustling and kidnapping gangs have long operated in this volatile region, but recently there has been concern that jihadists have infiltrated them.

The gangs maintain camps in the vast Rugu forest which straddles Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states, from where they launch attacks.

On July 3, bandits killed 18 residents in raids on four villages in Katsina state.