At least 140 villagers have been reportedly killed by bandits in multiple raids this week in Zamfara State,.

Although the report has not been confirmed by the authorities, four residents told AFP Saturday that the killing was carried out by gunmen known locally as “bandits”.

“We buried a total of 143 people killed by the bandits in the attacks,” said one of the four sources, Balarabe Alhaji, a community leader in one of the affected villages in Zamfara state.

Hundreds of motorcycle-riding gunmen rampaged through ten villages in Anka and Bukkuyum districts on Wednesday through Thursday, shooting residents, looting and burning homes, locals said.

Babandi Hamidu, a resident of Kurfa Danya village said the militants who rode into the villages were shooting “anyone on sight”.

“More than 140 people were buried across the ten villages and search for more bodies in ongoing because many people are unaccounted for,” Hamidu said.

Idi Musa, resident of another village, Kurfa Danya, said “the death toll is huge. We are taking of around 150 people killed by the bandits.”

Another resident who only gave his first name Babangida gave a similar account.

All four sources said they were present at burials in their respective villages.

Meanwhile, WuzupNigeria reported that the federal government has declared bandits as terrorists.

According to a gazette signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Wednesday, the proscribing of bandit groups in the North as terrorists was made on November 25, 2021, and the criminals will be tried under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011.

The gazette read partly: “Notice is hereby given that by the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice and Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta`addan Group and other similar groups in Nigeria are declared to be terrorists and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria and are proscribed pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the same Terrorism( Prevention) Act 2011.

“Consequently, the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and liable to prosecution.”