At least seven persons have been killed and scores of others injured in a series of attacks on communities in the Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina in northwest Nigeria
The attack which occurred on Tuesday evening and lasted into the early hours of Wednesday also saw dozens of houses and vehicles set ablaze.
No less than five communities were said to have been attacked by the gunmen, while there are speculations the death toll and number of those injured may be higher.
According to reports, the gunmen stormed the affected communities in their scores, armed with sophisticated weapons, the gunmen were said to have shot sporadically into the air to register their presence before going from house to house, looting valuables and harassing residents.
A source familiar with the incident said the bandits shot and killed seven persons, while dozens of others were injured during the attack.
The source added that several of the victims were trying to escape from the onslaught of the marauding gunmen when they sustained injuries.
He said that details of what happened would be difficult to get for now, due to the lack of mobile network in the area.
He, however, said that such details would be known later as some people whose communities were affected have gone there from Katsina town, to see things for themselves.