More than 40 killed in Nigeria as gunmen and vigilantes clash

Lack of safety has change into widespread in Nigeria and is a key concern for voters forward of a February 25 election.

Authorities in Nigeria have warned in opposition to folks taking the regulation into their very own palms after lethal clashes between gunmen and vigilantes left greater than 40 lifeless [File: Ben Curtis/AP Photo] (AP Photograph)

Greater than 40 folks have been killed in clashes between gunmen and vigilantes in Nigeria’s northern Katsina state, the newest violence forward of parliamentary and presidential elections.

Katsina state police spokesperson Gambo Isah mentioned on Friday that an armed gang, recognized domestically as bandits, attacked a village in Katsina’s Bakori native authorities space and had rustled cattle and sheep earlier than fleeing into the bush.

An area vigilante group mobilised and pursued the gunmen, which led to the lethal conflict and enormous lack of life on Thursday, the spokesperson mentioned.

“A joint safety operations is presently ongoing with a view to bringing the perpetrators to e book,” Isah mentioned.

Katsina is without doubt one of the northern states hardest hit by armed gangs who assault and kidnap folks from villages and highways in distant components of the area the place safety forces are stretched.

Lack of safety has change into widespread and is a key concern for voters forward of the February 25 election to decide on new members of parliament and a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, a former army ruler who got here to energy eight years in the past promising to finish insecurity.

Two safety sources put the loss of life toll in Katsina at 50. The our bodies of these killed have been recovered on Friday from the bush. These injured within the clashes have been taken to Kankara hospital within the state, the sources mentioned.

Katsina particular adviser on safety Ibrahim Ahmed mentioned communities have been discouraged from taking the regulation into their very own palms by means of vigilantism as it could result in lethal penalties.