KANO, Nigeria - Gunmen carrying machetes attacked a village in northwest Nigeria early Sunday morning, going house to house posing as visitors before shooting and slashing 19 people to death, witnesses and police said.

The attack happened in Lingyado village in Zamfara state, a rural region of pasturelands approaching Nigeria's border with Niger. About 150 attackers surrounded the village and roamed between its compounds, shooting residents who came out to greet them, elder Husaini Dansadau told The Associated Press.

Those who could fled into nearby cornfields when the shooting began. Some of the gunmen shouted that they'd rape the women they found, said witness Ahmad Tsauri Lingyado, who uses the village's name as his last name as is custom in Nigeria's north.

The attackers used Kalashnikov rifles and machetes in the attack, witnesses said. They stole money and valuables from the simple homes before fleeing into the darkness.

At least 19 people died in the assault, Zamfara state police spokesman Sunusi Amiru said. Seven others were wounded, including women and children.

Amiru said police now guard the village. A detachment of soldiers from a nearby base also entered the area Sunday, where the occasional gunshot still could be heard, witnesses said.

It appeared the attack was a reprisal for another village attack in August, Amiru said. Witnesses said the attackers appeared to be cattle herders from the Hausa Fulani ethnic group, which dominates Nigeria's Muslim north. Lingyado is a village of Hausa Fulani settlers.

Communal violence regularly occurs in Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of 150 million people. Typically, the violence cuts across different ethnic or religious groups, though it finds its base in economic or political strife.

Authorities rarely can stop the attacks, as they occur deep in the countryside, far from the limited protection Nigeria's weak central government can provide.

http://www.globalnews.ca/canada/world/gunmen+armed+with+machetes+kill+19+in+communal+clash+in+village+in+northwest+nigeria/6442493416/story.html

Why do the western media always refer to Nigeria's central government as being 'weak'? Anyone care to explain this? Seems to be a current phrase I have been noticing.

They can kill themselves if they like but they shouldn't touch christains. Abokis

Best Dad:

Why do the western media always refer to Nigeria's central government as being 'weak'? Anyone care to explain this? Seems to be a current phrase I have been noticing.

Is it TRUE or FALSE ?

Best Dad:

Why do the western media always refer to Nigeria's central government as being 'weak'? Anyone care to explain this? Seems to be a current phrase I have been noticing.

because they r planin to use it as an escuse in dis integratin dis country come 2015. anyway i support it sha

Best Dad:

Why do the western media always refer to Nigeria's central government as being 'weak'? Anyone care to explain this? Seems to be a current phrase I have been noticing.

It is because they see Nigeria in terms of a failed state similar to Somalia. Thanks to Zaki-Ibwam, Odi, Niger Delta slavery, Jos, boko haram and the other primitive issues we have nurtured into full blown industries.

all this muslim northerners with their evil and unforgiving spirit.
i just wonder what they go to the mosque to hear.
stupid and wicked people.

Best Dad:

Why do the western media always refer to Nigeria's central government as being 'weak'? Anyone care to explain this? Seems to be a current phrase I have been noticing.

Is Nigeria Government not really weak?? Of course it is. Giant of Africa Indeed!!!

Beaf:

It is because they see Nigeria in terms of a failed state similar to Somalia. Thanks to Zaki-Ibwam, Odi, Niger Delta slavery, Jos, boko haram and the other primitive issues we have nurtured into full blown industries.

God Bless You.

Despite all these weaknesses, we can still poke nose into the affairs of Libya and Cote-de-voir and we are looking for a seat in the UN Security Coucil.

These people complaining as to whether Nigeriano's Central Government is weak or not :: Must be Aliens. Do you not stay in Nigeria?
I am yet to hear anybody even Nigerianos themselve say that we have a Strong Central Government Lets not even go zere
at all.
[s]Because it will be a bloody nairaland fight - Nigerianos vs Nigerianos.
[/s]

Conclusion: everybody can chose what to believe: Strong vs Weak Central Governt.

@Topic,I'm not at all bothered.If them and their leaders have decided to look the other way,so be it.

I would say the security of lives and property is one of the task of the Govt either federal or state, but they all fail us, there should be awareness campaign launch if you notice anything around unusual call Crime stopper, operation sweep, SS, Police, or Army

but today we know how well our politician campaign for election, but when it comes to security issue we hear same story no resources

they all go parade in armored car from state to state, ward to ward

I pity Nigeria

When wil this communal clash end in this country. God wil save us from these abokis

A nation where the govt has no clue whatsoever about the bombings and all the killing s happening in Nigeria can be said to have a very weak GOVT
a nation where the govt cant produce basic amenities can be considered to be having a weak Govt
a nation where corruption goes on un-abated and the govt seems incapable of doing anything about it can also be said to have a weak govt
a nation that basically misplaces Her priorities and would rather go and be Voltron to other african and western nations rather than tackle all the ills bediviling us can be said to have a weak govt
a nation where the system has no credibility whatsoever can also be said to have a very weak govt


Question:WHICH OF THESE NOTED ABOVE APPLIES TO NIGERIA
Ans: ALLLLLL
thus: what do you say about Nigeria?
WE BETTER FIGHT AND TAKE OUR NATION AND TAKE IT BACK FROM ALL THESE THIEVES THAT ARE KILLING THE CONTRAPTION CALLED NIGERIA

rafhell:

all this muslim northerners with their evil and unforgiving spirit.
i just wonder what they go to the mosque to hear.
silly and wicked people.

WebSurfer:

They can kill themselves if they like but they shouldn't touch christains. Abokis

Like the report said, it is a communal clash, not a religious war.

Lingyado village is just some kilometres away from Zuru in Kebbi.

Will you be saying the same if it spreads to Zuru and villagers there are also wiped off!

Zuru people are also Aboki's and are predominantly Christians.

They are northerners( "evil with unforgiving spirit" ).

milehigh06:

A nation where the govt has no clue whatsoever about the bombings and all the killing s happening in Nigeria can be said to have a very weak GOVT
a nation where the govt cant produce basic amenities can be considered to be having a weak Govt
a nation where corruption goes on un-abated and the govt seems incapable of doing anything about it can also be said to have a weak govt
a nation that basically misplaces Her priorities and would rather go and be Voltron to other african and western nations rather than tackle all the ills bediviling us can be said to have a weak govt
a nation where the system has no credibility whatsoever can also be said to have a very weak govt


Question:WHICH OF THESE NOTED ABOVE APPLIES TO NIGERIA
Ans: ALLLLLL
thus: what do you say about Nigeria?
WE BETTER FIGHT AND TAKE OUR NATION AND TAKE IT BACK FROM ALL THESE THIEVES THAT ARE KILLING THE CONTRAPTION CALLED NIGERIA

you made the best point on this forum all of those mention above is a sign of a fail state,

demmykay:

When wil this communal clash end in this country. God wil save us from these abokis

WebSurfer:

They can kill themselves if they like but they shouldn't touch christains. Abokis

rafhell:

all this muslim northerners with their evil and unforgiving spirit.
i just wonder what they go to the mosque to hear.
silly and wicked people.

you 3 are the most ideeiotic people on earth

ideeits

alj_harem:

you 3 are the most ideeiotic people on earth
ideeits

why are you always insulting people

hbrednic:

why are you always insulting people

I did not insult them but called them what they are

You can not call a group of people evil and be called human

u see ur life, u talk as if u can face them momo inside clothe carry ur bad luck go sell somewere else.

shocking.

That's inanity!!!