20120613
Press TV
Armed robbers have invaded two villages in northern Nigeria, slitting some villagers' throats and shooting others, leaving at least 27 people dead.

Ibrahim Sidi, who is an official with the Maru local government in northern Zamfara state, said that he and other government officials counted 27 dead bodies after Monday's attack, The Associates Press reported.

A large number of people were also injured in the attacks, including a policeman.

A woman, who witnessed the violence, said she took refuge inside of empty sacks as the robbers pursued the villagers.

"They went door-to-door shooting villagers and in some cases slitting their throats with knives," a police official said on condition of anonymity.


According to reports, some 80 gunmen on motorbikes conducted the deadly raids in the darkness of night in the villages of Dan-Gulbi and Guru, both in Zamfara state.

The robbers were apparently taking revenge for the killings of some of their companions by villagers and local vigilante groups who were outraged with repeated robberies, the police official added.

There have been many major robberies in the Zamfara state.

"Because of the remoteness of the area, police could not deploy in good time and the attackers fled before police teams could reach the area," the official said. "It is clear that the bandits were on a revenge mission."