Bandits kill 47 people in north of Nigeria: police

Bandits riding more than 100 motorbikes killed 47 people in coordinated attacks against several farming villages in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, the president's office and local police said Sunday. The mounted raiders carried out "organised and simultaneous attacks" on the villages, Katsina state police spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement. The predawn raids Saturday targeted villages in the Dutsenma, Danmusa and Safana districts, he added. The bandits were thought to be members of criminal gangs specialising in cattle theft and kidnap for ransom in the area. Villagers had put up stiff resistance fighting off an earlier attack, said the police statement. But the gang returned at around 0230 GMT on around 150 motorbikes.They went on a shooting spree in the villages, setting fire to homes, residents had told police.

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