Residents say 15 killed in Nigeria attacks

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BULKUTU, Nigeria, May 14 (UPI) -- Fulani gunmen killed 15 people, including a police officer, in raids on four villages in Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, residents said.

The number of dead was not confirmed by police.

The raiders burned homes and destroyed farm produce in the Sunday attacks, witnesses said.

Residents said the raids in Bulkutu, Wakta, Jakute and Suwa in the Lamurde Local Government Area were in retaliation for a January attack on Fulani kinsmen, the Daily Trust newspaper reported.

At least 1,000 women and children who fled the Sunday attacks had taken refuge in Tigno, Lamurde and Lafia, said Helen Thompson, who escaped.

"Our entire villages were completely razed down," said James Aboki, who escaped from one of the villages.

The Daily Trust reported many residents said they learned of the attacks in advance and fled.

Authorities would not comment on the reasons for the attacks.

State Police Commissioner Mark Adamu Idako said police had not determined the number of casualties.

Idako said police were trying to determine the identity of the attackers.

Also Sunday, witnesses said four gunmen fired on men playing cards in the Tukuntawa area of Kano, killing three and injuring five others, the Daily Trust reported.

Witnesses said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles.

Three people died immediately and four others were taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Two weeks ago, an attack on a poker game seriously wounded a teenager, residents said.