This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/03/cattle-rustlers-kill-northern-nigeria-zamfara-vigilante
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cattle rustlers kill 23 people in northern Nigeria | Cattle rustlers kill 23 people in northern Nigeria |
| (6 months later) | |
| Cattle thieves have killed 23 people in northern Nigeria’s Zamfara state, which has been battling cattle rustling and kidnapping in recent months, an official has said. | Cattle thieves have killed 23 people in northern Nigeria’s Zamfara state, which has been battling cattle rustling and kidnapping in recent months, an official has said. |
| Bandits on motorcycles invaded Zanoka village on Friday, opening fire on residents and burning homes, said Mustapha Muhammad, the chair of the local government area. | Bandits on motorcycles invaded Zanoka village on Friday, opening fire on residents and burning homes, said Mustapha Muhammad, the chair of the local government area. |
| “We buried 23 people killed in the attack, including vigilantes who tried to fight off the bandits,” he added late on Saturday. “They torched homes and burnt some of their victims alive before fleeing into the bush.” | “We buried 23 people killed in the attack, including vigilantes who tried to fight off the bandits,” he added late on Saturday. “They torched homes and burnt some of their victims alive before fleeing into the bush.” |
| Nigeria: two Americans and two Canadians kidnapped in ambush | |
| Muhammad said the gunmen had earlier in the day invaded the village and carted away some cattle, but were forced to flee by local vigilantes who fought them off and reclaimed the stolen herd. | Muhammad said the gunmen had earlier in the day invaded the village and carted away some cattle, but were forced to flee by local vigilantes who fought them off and reclaimed the stolen herd. |
| Hours later, the thieves mobilised more men and returned to the village, 100 miles from the state capital, Gusau, where they opened fire and burnt homes. | Hours later, the thieves mobilised more men and returned to the village, 100 miles from the state capital, Gusau, where they opened fire and burnt homes. |
| A state police spokesman, Muhammad Shehu, said officers had recovered 15 bodies from the village following the attack. “Most of the victims were vigilantes who put up a fight against the bandits,” he said. | A state police spokesman, Muhammad Shehu, said officers had recovered 15 bodies from the village following the attack. “Most of the victims were vigilantes who put up a fight against the bandits,” he said. |
| Cattle rustlers have for several years been terrorising herding and farming villages in the state, stealing herds and killing residents who resist them. The attacks prompted villagers to form vigilante groups; the vigilantes have been accused of abuses and killings of suspected thieves, prompting reprisals. | Cattle rustlers have for several years been terrorising herding and farming villages in the state, stealing herds and killing residents who resist them. The attacks prompted villagers to form vigilante groups; the vigilantes have been accused of abuses and killings of suspected thieves, prompting reprisals. |
| In recent years, the gangs have turned to kidnapping for ransom, prompting the government to deploy troops to the affected communities, but the criminal attacks persist. | In recent years, the gangs have turned to kidnapping for ransom, prompting the government to deploy troops to the affected communities, but the criminal attacks persist. |
| Nigeria | Nigeria |
| Africa | Africa |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |