Northwest and central Nigeria are plagued by criminal gangs of cattle thieves and kidnappers for ransom called bandits, who raid villages, killing and abducting residents as well as looting and burning homes.Officials and local residents said the gunmen Friday raided a market in Unguwan Lalle village in Sabon Birni district of Sokoto state, near the border with Niger.
One trader who escaped the attack, Abubakar Shehu, said around 20 people were killed and many others badly injured.He said the attack could be a reprisal for the killing of 11 bandits by local vigilantes fighting the gangs at a market in nearby Mamande village on Thursday. Bandits fleeing the military operation in Zamfara have set up camps in Sabon Birni district from where they raid villages.