ABUJA 2 Apr (ANA) - Gunmen killed at least 28 people over the weekend during raids in several villages in the Shinkafi area in Nigeria's north-western state of Zamfara, the state government has said.

 

Several others were injured and others escaped into the bush during the attack in five remote areas, the authorities added.

 

Some residents told the BBC that more than 40 people were shot dead in the series of attacks. Most of those killed have since been buried.

 

Armed bandits frequently attack villages in north-western Nigeria, carrying out mass killings and abductions as well as stealing livestock.

 

Deployment of troops by the Nigerian government has so far failed to end the violence.

 

A government spokesperson told the BBC the villages attacked in the latest violence are Kursasa, Baje, Gidan-Dan-Mussa, Kurya and Maiwa.

 

Residents of north-western Nigeria say the gunmen usually sneak back into forests after carrying out attacks on rural communities or travellers.

 

Rights group Amnesty International had described the situation in Zamfara as a "forgotten conflict".(ANA)

FA/ANA/2 April 2019-------