Residents of a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, backed by police, repelled a three-day attack by armed bandits, with about 30 gunmen reported killed, local media reported on Friday.

The attackers raided Tudun Biri village in Gumi local government area on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in an attempt to seize control of the community, local sources reported.

Resident Zayannu Tudu told the newspaper that villagers killed about 11 attackers on the first day and seven on the second. The gunmen returned on the third day but were again repelled, bringing the reported death toll to about 30.

The figures could not be independently verified.

Zamfara police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar confirmed the attack, saying the divisional police officer in Gumi led officers who supported residents in defending the village.

Residents had organized themselves and taken strategic positions before police arrived, Abubakar said, adding that the command had deployed officers to vulnerable communities under its community policing strategy.

The incident comes amid persistent insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups carry out village raids, kidnappings and livestock theft.

In a separate incident this month, residents of Birnin Tudu in Gummi local government area reportedly killed more than 30 gunmen who surrounded the village on motorcycles. Three residents were killed, officials said.

Security forces and vigilantes have also reported recent operations in Zamfara that resulted in the deaths of suspected bandits, the rescue of abducted people and the recovery of stolen livestock.

The state police command said in September that it had killed about 600 suspected bandits and rescued more than 2,000 hostages over the preceding year. It also said more than 30,000 internally displaced people had returned to their communities.

The reported killings in Tudun Biri could raise fears of retaliatory attacks against residents, who remain vulnerable despite efforts by police and local security groups to protect rural communities. (ILKHA)