At least 9 killed, many abducted in ‘bandit’ gang attack in Nigeria

Nigeria's Zamfara has been the focus of attacks by gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, in the country's northwest in recent years [File: Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]

At least nine people have been reported killed and many abducted following an attack in Nigeria’s northwest, residents and local officials said, amid increasing violence against farmers by what have been described as “bandit” gangs.

The deadly attack on Friday took place in Zamfara state, the epicentre of attacks by heavily armed men known locally as bandits who have been wreaking havoc across Nigeria’s northwest in recent years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel by road.