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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The attackers targeted a total of eight villages in Zamfara between Tuesday and Thursday last week.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The head of this ministry, Sadiya Umar Farouq, described the attacks as “terrible and tragic. \u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Their violent activities have been partly attributed to climate change, which has caused a drought in many places where they grazed their animals.<\/p>\n
Who was behind the latest attacks remained unclear.<\/p>\n
Security officials say some of the gangs are linked to Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram.<\/p>\n
The attacks, in which many houses were burned, came despite a military operation aimed at arresting these gangs.<\/p>\n
School children are also often abducted in the region in order to gain money in exchange for the release of the victims’ families.<\/p>\n
Thirty students abducted from a government college in neighboring Kebbi State were released on Saturday after spending more than six months in captivity.<\/p>\n
It was not clear if any money had been paid for the reward.<\/p>\n
Some of the abducted students are still being held.\/REL\/<\/p>\n
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