At least 40 miners killed by gunmen in northern Nigeria

The Nigerian police have launched an investigation into the killing of at least 40 miners working on a site in the country's northwestern state of Zamfara, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Shehu Muhammad, spokesman of Zamfara State police, told Xinhua the miners were attacked on Monday by suspected cattle rustlers at Gidan Ardo Village located in the state's Bindin district.

He said the police will join forces with the army to track down the killers, adding the figure of casualties in the attack was yet to be ascertained.

However, local sources told Xinhua more than 40 people were killed by the gunmen who rode motorcycles into the village and shot indiscriminately at the mine workers. Several people were also injured by the gunmen, said Ismail Dongo, a local chief. Endit