Bandits kill 20 in Nigeria, 12 in Kenya

Over 20 people were killed when bandits attacked villages in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kaduna on Saturday, a local official said Sunday, reported Xinhua.

Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security affairs in Kaduna, said in a statement that four villages in the state's Giwa local government area came under heavy attacks, as the bandits went on the rampage, shooting at the villagers and setting ablaze houses late Saturday.

Aruwan said the state government has immediately directed an urgent assessment of the affected areas or communities toward providing relief, and security agencies will sustain surveillance in the general area.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months.

Meanwhile, twelve people died after the bandit attacked remote villages in the northern Kenyan county of Marsabit late Saturday, police confirmed on Sunday.

Robinson Mboloi, Marsabit county police commander said heavily armed bandits who raided the remote villages also disappeared with a large herd of cattle.

He said a multi-agency security team was in hot pursuit of the bandits adding that cooperation from the public is key to end cattle rustling in northern Kenya.

The vast and semi-arid Marsabit county has lately grappled with banditry and inter-communal strife linked to competition over dwindling water sources and pasture.