Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) At least 45 people were killed in retaliatory attacks by armed bandits in a remote village in northwest Nigeria, police said.

The attack occurred on Saturday at Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Austin Iwar told CNN.

Women and children were among those killed in the attack after bandits opened fire on farming settlements in the area.

"The vigilante group killed some bandits two weeks before, so Saturday was a reprisal attack by the bandits who stormed the village and shot at everybody," he said.

"Twelve bodies were recovered and buried on Saturday. We found another 33 in bushes around the village on Sunday morning." he added.

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