Unknown gunmen believed to be bandits on Monday morning invaded Maza-Kuka in the Mashegu local government council of Niger State, killing no fewer than 18 persons in a mosque.
The villagers were performing their early morning prayers when the gunmen invaded the village in large numbers and attacked the villagers, Daily Post reports.
The gunmen reportedly arrived on motorcycles and went straight into the mosque shooting sporadically resulting in the death of residents.
An eyewitness said the community was taken unawares by the bandits who left many dead and many others injured.
SaharaReporters had only in September reported that gunmen killed at least 30 persons at Kachiwe village, Sarkin Pawa in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The gunmen from their hideouts in the dreaded Barnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State, had stormed the village and other neighbouring communities.
Monday Bala Kuryas, the state Commissioner of Police, had said an investigation had begun into the attack but not much was heard about the police probe.