Cattle rustlers kill 35 in central north Nigeria: witness

At least 35 persons were killed by gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers in Shiroro area of central north Nigeria's Niger State, a village head told Xinhua on Thursday.

The victims included the district head of Allawa in Shiroro, a police inspector and 33 others, a village head in the area, who pledged anonymity, told Xinhua on phone.

The community leader said the attackers, numbering about 40 and using machine guns and other dangerous weapons, were believed to be Fulani herdsmen.

He said the attackers set more than 25 houses ablaze and injured many.

The village head said many of the villagers had been displaced as a result of the incident.

State police spokesperson Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident, said the command had yet to confirm the number of casualties.

Elkana said a policeman was among those killed and added that the incident occurred on Tuesday night. Endit