Bandits have attacked two farming communities in Zamfara State where they killed at least 30 farmers, including a respected Islamic cleric.
And elsewhere in Plateau, two herders and over 200 cattle were killed.
Police Spokesman in Zamfara, ASP Yazid Abu Abubakar, confirmed the attacks on two local government areas of the state, but said details would be given later.
Sources told one of our correspondents that the incidents in Zamfara State happened on Thursday.
An online platform, PR Nigeria, had reported that the attacks occurred in Maradun and Tsafe local government areas.
One of our sources said that Mallam Makwashi Maradun Mai Jan Baki, a renowned Islamic cleric and another person were killed in Maradun town.
Two of the cleric’s children are still missing after the attack.
It was learnt that three other persons were killed by the bandits in Gidangoga village, while residents of the village killed 24 bandits and recovered eight of their motorbikes.
A resident of Maradun said: “We engaged the bandits very well. Attacks are becoming consistent in Maradun area these days. They happen almost every day. Many communities in the local government have been vacated for fear of reprisal.”
PR Nigeria also reported that the bandits targeted Bilbis village in Tsafe LGA, leaving 20 civilians dead.
Local sources reported that the farmers were attacked while clearing their fields and the bandits showed no mercy.
It was also gathered that a district head, Alhaji Murtala Ruwan Bado, of Garbadu in Talata Mafara Emirate, also narrowly escaped a bandit attack in the evening of the same day along Mayananchi road.