ABUJA - At least 27 people were killed and eight others wounded by gunmen in villages of Nigeria's northern Zamfara State, local police and witnesses reported on Monday.

Police blamed the deadly attacks on armed robbers following a crackdown, in which their members were either killed or arrested.

The gunmen suspected villagers to tip off authorities about them, according to a statement by local police.

An eyewitness to the incident, Lawalli Dangulbi, who is also a local government chairmanship aspirant in the area, said at least 27 people including a policeman lost their lives to the gruesome killing.

He said there was pandemonium in the village when the robbers struck.

"The assailants shot sporadically, killing 18 persons instantly," he added.

He said the other dead bodies were discovered in neighboring villages of Biya, Guru and Sabuwar Kasuwa in the area.

"I managed to carry eight wounded persons from the scene of the attack which was over 100 km from the state capital, Gusau for treatment," Dangulbi said.