In Nigeria, the attack launched on Thursday by a horde of cattle thieves against several villages in the state of Kebbi, in the northwestern part of the country, has been revised upwards: it went from 66 to 88 dead.
as reported from Lagos, Liza Fabbian
Eight villages in the Danko Wasagu district were attacked on Thursday by men on motorcycles who massacred the population. The initial death toll of 66 has increased. Kebbi police now report 88 victims, while many residents are still missing.
Northwest Nigeria has in recent months become a real lawless zone. Hundreds of local gangs are established in the states of Zamfara, Niger or Katsina, from where they carry out their raids to capture livestock, change trucks or carry out kidnappings. Last week again, very many children – maybe 200 – were kidnapped in a Koranic school in Niger State.
According to analysts, some of the men and weapons circulating in this region come directly from Niger, whose border is close. Police forces have been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks, while the residents of the villages that were targeted last Thursday mostly fled.
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