Gunmen kill 53 villagers in Nigeria

KANO, Nigeria: Armed cattle thieves have killed 53 people in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state, police and local residents said on Saturday, the latest violence to hit the restive region.

Scores of motorcycle-riding gunmen called bandits by locals on Thursday through Friday, invaded the villages of Kadawa, Kwata, Maduba, Ganda Samu, Saulawa and Askawa in the Zurmi district, shooting residents, they said.

The gang attacked farmers in their fields and pursued others who fled to escape the assaults.

Zamfara police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said 14 bodies had been taken to the state capital Gusau on Friday, and added that "policemen deployed in the area following the attacks."