Abuja: Nineteen people have been killed over the weekend in northern Nigeria where gunmen attacked two villages of a local community, officials said.
The chairman of the local government, Kumai Badu confirmed the attack on the Ataka community in Kaduna state`s Kaura local government area alleging that the assailants who came with guns were from neighbouring villages.
"19 people were killed while 10 others were critically injured in Mafang and Zilang villages," he said.
The official said the attackers burnt almost all houses in the two villages forcing some 4,500 to flee their homes.
The police spokesman for Kaduna state, Aminu Lawal, also confirmed the attacks, saying they happened between late Saturday and the early hours of Sunday.
Kaduna state is close to Plateau state where the Fulani ethnic group is engaged in a conflict with other groups resulting in deadly attacks and reprisals.
PTI
