Nigeria issues stern warning as bandits kill 47 villagers

The Nigerian president's office and Nigerian police on Sunday said 47 people were killed in coordinated attacks against several farming villages in Katsina State in northern Nigeria.

According to a statement released by Nigerian police, the attacks took place in the early hours onSaturday.Members of the security forces, including soldiers and policemen, weredeployed to the area on Sunday.

In a statement released on Sunday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, condemned the attack by people he referred to as bandits. Buhari said that his government is determined to defeat and crush these criminal elements and the attacks will be met with decisive force.

In the statement, Buhari extended his sympathy to the families of the victims and called on the people to be more vigilant by reporting the activities of criminals in their midst.

The president, who comes from Katsina State where the attacks were staged, said his government will not tolerate any large-scale killing of innocent people by bandits.

According to Isah Gambo, a local police spokesman, the bandits were thought to be members of criminal gangs in the area specializing in cattle theft and kidnap for ransom. Gambo said the bandits, who were riding more than 100 motorbikes, carried out organized and simultaneous attacks on the villages.

In his statement, the president also asked security agencies to remain alert and not lower their guard, which may create a vacuum for the bandits to strike.