Police and civilians in Nigeria claimed on Sunday that gunmen killed dozens of people and kidnapped several children in separate attacks in two northern states, the latest instances in a region plagued by violent conflict.

Armed gangs on motorcycles frequently take advantage of the region's understaffed security personnel to kidnap peasants, motorists, and students for ransom.

Residents reported that armed men raided Janbako and Sakkida villages in northeastern Zamfara state on Saturday, killing 24 people. The gunmen also kidnapped six children collecting firewood in a nearby forest in Gora village.


Residents in Janbako and Sakkida, Hussaini Ahmadu and Abubakar Maradun, told Reuters by phone that the gangs had requested villagers pay a fee to allow them to farm their fields earlier in the week, but the people did not pay.

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Yazid Abubakar, a spokesman for the Zamfara police, confirmed the attacks but stated just 13 people had been slain and nine minor boys and girls had been kidnapped.

According to two residents, gunmen slaughtered 25 people and set their houses on fire in north central Benue state's Imande Mbakange community on Saturday. The attack's motivation was unknown.