At least 140 people have been killed in a series of attacks this week in the northeastern Nigerian state of Zamfara, with armed groups in a rural area threatening people for months.

Over the years, areas in central and northwestern Nigeria have witnessed conflicts over land control between herdsmen and farmers, and some groups have turned into so-called criminal gangs and are spreading fear in local communities.

“We have buried 143 people who were killed by robbers in the attacks,” said Balarab Alhaji, one of the residents and the leader of the group in one of the affected villages in Zamfara state.

Hundreds of armed men on motorcycles attacked ten villages in Anga and Pugoyam districts on Wednesday and Thursday, shooting locals and looting houses, residents said. Authorities and security services have not yet commented on the attacks.

Papandi Hamido, a resident of the village of Corfa Tania, said gunmen who entered the village shot and killed “everyone they saw”.

Hamido added, “More than 140 people have been buried in ten villages and the search for more bodies continues as many more go missing.”

Last week, the Nigerian government added gangs to its list of terrorists, with harsher punishments for criminals, informants and their supporters.

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