Nigeria, July 5 -- Again, tragedy struck the Birnin-Gwari Emirate of Kaduna State, Saturday afternoon, when armed bandits attacked local communities, killing at least nine farmers and abandoning an unspecified number of villagers.

The attacks reportedly began around 3 p.m., when local peasants were tending to their crops.

According to local sources, the bloodshed was triggered by a failed robbery attempt in which two armed bandits had attempted to snatch a farmer's motorcycle.

A resident, Ibrahim Garba, said the incident ended in the death of one of the bandits.

"The other bandit fled and returned with a heavily armed gang that unleashed a ruthless assault on farmers working in the vicinity", Mr Garba said.

Nine bodies have been reco...