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Gunmen have killed more than 200 people in a series of attacks in northern Nigeria, authorities in the state said on Sunday.
The attackers targeted a total of eight villages in Zamfara between Tuesday and Thursday last week.
More than 10,000 people have been left homeless by the violence, while many are still missing, said the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
The head of this ministry, Sadiya Umar Farouq, described the attacks as “terrible and tragic. ”
Farouq said the attacks were carried out by more than 500 bandits riding on motorcycles, flattening houses and killing people despite the presence of security authorities.
Their violent activities have been partly attributed to climate change, which has caused a drought in many places where they grazed their animals.
Who was behind the latest attacks remained unclear.
Security officials say some of the gangs are linked to Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram.
The attacks, in which many houses were burned, came despite a military operation aimed at arresting these gangs.
School children are also often abducted in the region in order to gain money in exchange for the release of the victims’ families.
Thirty students abducted from a government college in neighboring Kebbi State were released on Saturday after spending more than six months in captivity.
It was not clear if any money had been paid for the reward.
Some of the abducted students are still being held./REL/
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