Gunmen kill 12, abduct women and children in Nigerian village

Armed men attacked a village in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state, killing at least 12 people and kidnapping women and children, according to witnesses. The violent night raid took place in the village of Lajinge around 11 p.m. on Saturday and continued until approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, local residents reported.

Six members of one family perished when the attackers set fire to their home, according to one resident who spoke to Reuters by phone. The gunmen entered the village, attacked residents for several hours, and then fled the scene. The region has experienced numerous raids and kidnappings by heavily armed gangs, known as bandits, who steal livestock and demand ransom from the victims' families.

Auwal Hassan, a local resident, informed Reuters that the attackers killed at least 12 people, injured four others, and abducted women and children after stealing a significant number of livestock. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are expected to provide further updates, as stated by Ahmed Rufai, a spokesperson for the Sokoto police force.

The attack occurred a week after bandits killed at least 24 farmers in the neighboring Zamfara state, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by these heavily armed gangs in the region.