No fewer than 50 persons are feared killed, many others wounded following fresh attacks in over six communities in Zamfara State by bandits.
The attacks were carried out on Wednesday night.
Most of the people killed by the bandits were members of the local vigilante group known as Yansakai, who were keeping watch on their communities.
Among the affected communities are Kangon farimana, Ruwan dawa, Yargada, Kunkelai, Yarzaiga, Yar doka Gobirawa, Bayan Banki, and Biyabiki in Gusau and Maru Local Government Areas of the state.
The bandits were said to have invaded the communities early hours of Wednesday and started shooting sporadically in the air to scare the locals.
In their attempt to repel the attack, many members of the vigilante group were killed by the bandits, who had superior weapons.
The exact number of the victims is not yet known when this report was filed but locals said that no fewer than 50 persons were killed by the criminals.
The incident was confirmed by police in the state. It said that troops could not reach out to the scene of the attack as they were not informed in good time due to a lack of mobile phone network in the affected areas.
The Governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, is an advocate of negotiation with bandits. He accepts repentant bandits ready to lay down their arms and embrace peace.