At least eleven persons have been killed and four others injured in an attack on Damaga community in Maradun local government area of Zamfara State.
The gunmen stormed the village on motorcycles shooting sporadically as they carted away animals.
A resident of the area said the bandits arrived the community around 1pm Wednesday and started shooting.
Students at a school in the community abandoned their classrooms and scampered for safety on sighting the criminals.
Sources say bodies of the victims have been recovered and buried according to Islamic rites.
Police in the state in a press statement signed by Spokesperson of the command denied the attack, but said it was a case of Farmers/ Herders clash.
He noted that no casualty was recorded except a minor skirmish which was brought under control by the police.
The statement adds that Combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of the area responded promptly and are currently on confidence building patrol to avoid escalation.
The attack is coming less than twenty four hours after a two month ultimatum to unrepentant bandits was issued by the state Governor Bello Matawalle.