Nigeria attacks toll climbs to 200 people dead, thousands displaced

Nigeria said  that gunmen killed at least 200 people and displaced thousands more in multiple raids in the northwest over the last week, dealing a heavy blow to authorities struggling to restore order.

Herders and farmers in Africa's most populous country have clashed over access to land in northwest and central Nigeria for years, but some groups have evolved into criminal gangs known as "bandits" who kill, loot and kidnap.

The minister of humanitarian affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq called the past week's attacks in Zamfara state "horrific and tragic," giving the first official toll after details began filtering out early Saturday.

"Over 200 persons were buried... due to the invasion by bandits," she said in a statement confirmed by her spokeswoman Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Sunday.

"We also worried about the displaced persons who are fleeing in their hundreds from their communities," the minister added, saying that relief material was sent to Zamfara.

The minister said more than 10,000 people were displaced when "their homes were razed by the bandits while scores are still missing."

On Saturday, four residents had said that gunmen rampaged through Anka and Bukkuyum districts over two days, killing at least 140 people.

Babandi Hamidu, a resident of Kurfa Danya village said the militants were shooting "anyone on sight".

Bello Matawalle, the governor of Zamfara state that borders Niger, downplayed the violence and said only 58 people were killed.

"The Emir of Anka gave a list of 22 deaths while the Emir of Bukkuyum gave a list of 36 victims," said a spokesman for the governor, Zailani Bappa, in a statement.