Gunmen killed fifteen farmers on Monday in northeastern Katsina state, local police said. About 200 gunmen and motorbikes attacked and opened fire on farmers in the village of Yargamji, 25 kilometers from the state capital, Katsina, police spokesman Gambo told AFP. Isah. "Fifteen corpses were recovered after the attack by the bandits," he added. According to testimony from residents, the attack was carried out around 10 a.m. (universal time). Law enforcement officials have been dispatched to assist the farmers, the spokesman said.
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Rural communities in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, are frequently the target of attacks by gangs of thieves. Last month, bandits killed 57 people in raids on several villages in the state. Attempts by local authorities to negotiate peace with criminal gangs have failed. For its part, the army carried out air raids against hideouts of bandits in Katsina and its surroundings. Gangs are present in the vast forest of Rugu which covers the states of Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger, from where they launch their attacks.
