At least 41 people have been killed in armed clashes between an armed group and a vigilante group doing guard work in northern Nigeria's Katsina province, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Katsina state police spokesperson Gambo Isah said an armed gang attacked a village in the Bakori district of the province and stole the villagers' property, which led to clashes with a civil group of volunteers who were guarding the villagers with the armed men, resulting in the death and injury of dozens.
It is worth noting that this clash, which took place, is the latest act of violence before the presidential elections that will take place on February 25.
Issa stated that a local vigilante group mobilized and pursued the militants, which led to the clash on Thursday.
Two security sources put the death toll at 50 and said the bodies were recovered only on Friday in the bush and the injured were shifted to Kankara hospital in the state.
"A joint security operation is currently ongoing with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book," Isah said.
Katsina is one of the most affected northern states by armed gangs who attack and kidnap people from villages and highways in remote areas of the region where security forces are deployed.
Special Adviser for Security in Katsina Ibrahim Ahmed said communities are discouraged from taking the law into their own hands as it would lead to dire consequences.
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