Residents of a small village in the northwest Nigerian state of Zamfara bury 20 of their kinsmen.<br/> <br />They were killed by dozens of gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, who stormed the village on Tuesday morning demanding money.<br/> <br />One victim told Reuters that he was praying in the mosque when he heard people shouting. He said one of the assailants attacked him with a machete, but he defended himself and was able to escape.<br/> <br />Mai Wada, the village head, said the prevailing situation is beyond the control of the residents.<br/> <br />He said groups of vigilantes have formed in the town to capture criminals and hand them over to the authorities.<br/> <br />But they are generally released after a few days and return to the village to kill those who arrested them.<br/> <br />A breakdown of law and order in Nigeria has created opportunities for armed gangs to engage in violent crime.<br/> <br />END
