24 killed in bandit attack in Nigeria

ZAMFARA, July 24 (Reuters): Armed bandits riding motorcycles killed at least 24 farmers and wounded several others in an attack on remote farming villages in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state, residents told Reuters on Thursday.

The attackers stormed communities in the Sauna district of the Talata Mafara local government area at about 1300 GMT on Tuesday and opened fire on people working on their farms, residents told Reuters.

"They killed at least 24 innocent farmers. We are still counting the losses," resident Auwal Sani said by phone.

Zamfara is at the centre of a security crisis in Nigeria's northwest, where armed gangs locally known as bandits frequently raid villages, kidnap residents for ransom and steal livestock.

Residents said the gunmen travelled nearly 50km (31 miles) along the Mayanchi-Anka highway.