Nigeria: Armed men kill 12, abduct women and children in village attack

Armed assailants terrorized a village in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state, killing at least 12 people and abducting women and children during a nighttime raid. The attackers also set fire to a home, killing six members of one family.

Residents reported that the gunmen stormed Lanjinge village around 11 p.m. Saturday and continued their assault until approximately 3 a.m. Sunday. The violence underscores the persistent insecurity in the region, which is a frequent target for heavily armed gangs known locally as 'bandits'.

These groups typically conduct raids on villages, kidnapping residents for ransom and stealing livestock. A local resident, Awal Hassan, told Reuters that the attackers killed at least 12 people, injured four others, and abducted women and children after stealing a large number of animals.

The police are investigating the attack. The incident follows a similar assault just a week prior, where armed bandits killed at least 24 farmers in the neighboring Zamfara state, highlighting a concerning pattern of violence in the area.

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They killed at least 12 people, injured four others, abducted women and children, after first stealing a large number of animals.