At least 32 people have been killed after gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on three separate communities in northern Nigeria, police have said.
Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa, all located in the Borgu area of Niger state, were targeted in dawn raids on Saturday.
Six people died in the assault on Tunga-Makeri, Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said, adding that it was not clear how many people had been abducted.
Mr Abiodun said that Konkoso was also attacked, but gave no other details.
He did say that security teams have been sent to the scene and a rescue operation for those who were abducted was under way.
Abdullahi Adamu, from Konkoso, said 26 people were killed in the attack there, describing how the attackers were “operating freely without the presence of any security”.
Security is deteriorating in the northern part of the West African country, where killings and kidnappings for ransom have been carried out by both Islamic militants and armed gangs.
Earlier this month, 162 people died in an attack in neighboring Kwara State.
In recent months, the US government has accused Nigerian authorities of not protecting Christians, although attacks affect both Christians and Muslims.
The two nations have set up a security partnership which saw Washington carry out strikes on armed groups in Nigerian territories in December, and a US military force being deployed to the country.