The Nigerian Air Force report details that the bombings occurred the day before in Zamfara State. However, a separate report points to a similar action last Tuesday, for which there are no official details yet.
Groups of armed men riding motorcycles attack unprotected villages, destroying crops, looting supplies, kidnapping people for ransom and stealing livestock. In recent years they have established their headquarters in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states.
Although their crimes are subject to customary law, they are viewed favorably by the Islamist group Boko Haram, whose headquarters are in the northeastern state of Borno, because their activities force central authorities to split their forces, leading to a reduction in pressure.
The emergence of these gangs further exacerbated internal, political, social and economic conflicts that plague Nigerian society.
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