LAGOS, Nigeria

At least 10 people were killed, six of whom were beheaded, and over a dozen more kidnapped by armed bandits in an attack in Nigeria's north-central state, a local official said on Wednesday.

A gang of bandits stormed two communities in Rafi Local Government in north-central Niger State on Tuesday, breaking into people’s homes, said Abdullahi Nurudeen, a youth leader in Belu-Belu, one of the affected communities.

"They shot dead 10 people, but later they beheaded six of the victims," he told Anadolu via telephone, adding that "the attackers also kidnapped over 12 people in our community and one more in Wayam, another village attacked by the bandits."

Wasiu Abiodun, a spokesman for Niger State police command, confirmed the attack but did not say how many people were killed or kidnapped.

"Some people were kidnapped during the attack but we cannot ascertain their number," he told Anadolu.

He said the bandits may have attacked in retaliation for joint security forces raids on their hideouts in Niger State the last weekend.

Bandit attacks and kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria's northern region.