Zamfara and other states in central and northwestern Nigeria have for years been terrorised by criminal gangs who carry out deadly raids, kidnappings and arson attacks.

“The bandits released only 18 of the 51 people they kidnapped from our village and when we asked (the freed hostages) about the 33 others they said they had been slaughtered by their captors,” Kasimu Ibrahima, a resident of Banga village, told AFP.

Local political administrator Mannir Haidara confirmed that some captives had been killed but did not give a number.

The violence initially stemmed from conflicting claims for land and water rights between herders and farmers but morphed into organised crime, with gangs taking control of neglected rural communities with little or no government presence.

In February, bandits stormed into Banga village in the Kaura Namoda district on motorcycles and abducted 51 people, including three pregnant women, after killing two others, residents said.

The locals then paid the ransom in two instalments.

But on Friday only 18 captives returned to Banga and reported the killing of 33 fellow captives by their abductors.

“They (bandits) took the money we worked hard to raise, killed 33 of the captives and sent the remaining 18 back to us,” said Altine Bawa, another resident.