Clashes between gangs, vigilantes kill over 50 in northern Nigeria: residents

GUSAU, Nigeria: Clashes between criminal gangs and local vigilantes have left more than 50 people dead in northwestern Nigeria’s Zamfara state, residents told AFP Saturday.

Zamfara is one of several states in northwest and central Nigeria terrorized by kidnapping-for-ransom and cattle-rustling gangs who raid villages, kill and abduct residents as well as looting homes before burning them.

Locals call the gangs bandits.

Vigilantes from Zoma village in Bukkuyum district ambushed the bandits who were passing through the village on Thursday after kidnapping several people from nearby Gummi district, the sources said.

“We were alerted that the bandits were heading our way, so our vigilantes laid in wait for the bandits and engaged them in a fierce gunfight,” said a traditional village chief who asked not to be identified for personal…