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At least 21 villagers have been killed during clashes with armed “bandits” in Bunkasau village, Zamfara State in northern Nigeria, according to residents.
Three community members told AFP that dozens of armed men on about 80 motorcycles stormed the village in the Bukkuyum District on Friday, triggering a gun battle with residents.
Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar confirmed the incident but said investigations were still ongoing and details had not been fully established.
He said authorities were aware of the violence and were working to gather more information.
“We are aware of the violence but we are still investigating and gathering details.”
A community leader in Bukkuyum, Lawwali Umar, said the attackers killed 21 people during the exchange of fire, adding that residents had refused to continue paying levies imposed by the armed group and had opted to resist.
“The bandits killed 21 people during the fight.”
Another resident, Jamilu Aliyu, also confirmed the same death toll.
Babuga Ahmad from a nearby village said the attackers engaged villagers in a prolonged gunfight before returning with more force when the villagers ran out of ammunition.
He said the attackers overwhelmed the community and killed 21 people.
“They killed 21 people,” Ahmad said.
Images obtained from the village reportedly showed bodies of young men lying inside a room with blood stains on the floor.
Banditry in northwest Nigeria has evolved from local herder-farmer conflicts into organised criminal networks involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed attacks.
Despite a military deployment in Zamfara since 2015 and repeated peace deals with armed groups, violence has continued across the region.
