Armed bandits have killed 20 people in Tungar Kwana village in Talata Mafara local government area of Zamfara State on Tuesday night, October 20.

According to residents who spoke to Premium Times, the gunmen stormed the community around 11pm on motorcycles after blocking the community’s entry and exit points and began to shoot people. Many houses were also burnt during the attack that lasted for several hours.

“It was a well planned and coordinated attack; they also stole many livestock and escaped to the forest,” a resident told the pubilcation.

The resident alleged that the attack was in retaliation for the massive ongoing onslaught Nigerian security forces against the armed bandits in their forest enclave.

The Emir of Talata Mafara, Bello Muhammed, led the funeral prayer for the victims on Wednesday morning, October 21.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the incident said that 20 people were killed bandits who see the rural residents as informants for the security agencies.

“The gunmen see the villagers as a soft target to avenge the ongoing offensive against them. The area is calm as more security personnel are deployed, and the criminals would be arrested to face the weight of the law,” Shehu said.