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More than 50 people have been killed in clashes between armed gangs and local vigilantes in Zamfara State, residents told AFP on Saturday.
The violence occurred on Thursday in Zoma village, Bukkuyum district, after local vigilantes ambushed armed men travelling through the area, residents said.
The armed men were reportedly passing through the village after abducting several people from neighbouring Gummi district.
A village chief, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the vigilantes killed 44 of the armed men but lost nine of their own members in the fighting.
“We were alerted that the bandits were heading our way, so our vigilantes laid in wait for the bandits and engaged them in a fierce gunfight,” he told AFP.
“Our vigilantes killed 44 of the bandits … we also lost nine vigilantes in the fight,” said the chief.
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A Zamfara state police spokesman contacted by AFP said the force had yet to receive details about the clashes.
Zoma residents Kabiru Tafida and Basiru Buhari, reached by AFP, gave the same account of the clashes and toll.
“We call on the authorities to provide our vigilantes with guns and ammunition to fight these bandits who use sophisticated weapons,” Buhari said.
