SHARED Dozens killed by 'armed bandits' in Nigeria

Grieving families of slain residents of the village of Kizara in northern Nigerian.

 Zamfara state watch from the edge of a grave yard during the funeral of their relatives on June 18, 2013 after a group of bandits attacked the village, killing 48 people in a pre-dawn raid in apparent reprisals targeting a local vigilante group Women mourning after a bandit attack in Zamfara in 2013 At least 35 villagers have been killed this week by suspected armed bandits in north-western Nigeria. 

 Witnesses say the motorcycle-riding bandits first intercepted a vehicle taking traders to a community market Zamfara State. They then slit the throat of the driver before opening fire on the vehicle - killing all on board and then set it ablaze.

 Next, they targeted the market itself. The armed bandits then proceeded to the market and started shooting indiscriminately, killing at least one more person. Police were unable to give exact figures for the dead and injured in the attacks, which is suspected to be the work of cattle thieves.

 It would not be the first time the state's communities have been attacked by alleged cattle thieves. 

 Last November, at least 24 people were killed and dozens of residential houses torched in attacks on about three communities in another part of the state.