Gunmen massacre nearly 200 in Nigeria attacks, some bound and executed

Nearly 200 people have been ‍killed by armed men in separate attacks in remote villages in central and northern Nigeria, a local lawmaker, residents and police said on Wednesday, as security forces searched for survivors and chased the attackers.

In central Kwara state, gunmen attacked the Woro community on Tuesday leaving at least 170 ⁠people dead, the lawmaker for the area, Saidu Baba Ahmed, said by phone.

It was the deadliest assault recorded this year in the district bordering Niger state, an area increasingly targeted by gunmen who raid villages, kidnap residents and loot livestock.

Ahmed said the gunmen rounded up residents, bound their hands behind their backs and executed them. The lawmaker shared photographs of dead bodies ‍with Reuters, which the agency was not immediately able to verify.

Villagers fled into surrounding bushland during the attack, he said. The ‍gunmen torched homes and shops.

“As I’m speaking to you now, I’m in the village along with military personnel, sorting dead bodies ‌and combing the surrounding areas for more,” Ahmed said.