Nigerian president condemns attack in northern village

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Friday strongly condemned the massacre of innocent persons in northwest Birane village of Zamfara State.

In a statement made available to Xinhua, the Nigerian leader sympathized with families of victims of the heinous and inhuman attacks on defenseless citizens which left many injured.

He directed the country's minister of defense, Mansur Dan Ali to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and report back.

The president also ordered security agencies to immediately mobilize and deploy their members to the vulnerable areas of the state, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to face the full wrath of the law.

Buhari assured the Zamfara State government, victims of the mayhem and residents in the state, that the federal government will continue do all it takes to support security agencies to secure lives and property, not only in the affected state but all parts of the country.

He however restated his administration's determination to put an end to the spate of senseless spilling of innocent blood in parts of the country, and calls for restraint to allow the nation's security apparatus to stem the undesirable trend.

Eye witnesses said 36 people were killed and others injured by gunmen in Birane Village on Wednesday.

However, the police said 18 persons died in the attack, which appears to be a reprisal against the villagers for intercepting a suspected cattle rustler.