ABUJA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-three villagers were killed in an attack by armed men on Tuesday in Nigeria's northwestern state of Zamfara, according to the police.
Mohammed Shehu, spokesman for Zamfara police, confirmed the killing to Xinhua, saying the villages of Tunga and Kabaje in Kaura-Namoda area of the state were seriously affected by the attack.
"At the moment, peace has been restored in the affected areas and a combined team of mobile and regular police, the army and air force are on surveillance in the area," Shehu said.
A local government official told Xinhua that more than 100 armed men rode into the two villages on motorcycles when residents were going to their farms.
The cause of the killing is unknown, as no armed group in the country has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
The state of Zamfara, as well as neighboring Kaduna state, have witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months.
There have also been recurring incidents of livestock rustling and armed banditry in the region.
