Gunmen have killed at least nine farmers and abducted several others during a weekend raid on a rural community in northwestern Nigeria's Kaduna state, according to a United Nations security report and local sources. 

The attack took place on Saturday outside Kakangi village in Birnin Gwari district, where armed assailants ambushed farmers working in their fields. 

While official UN security assessments confirmed nine recovered bodies, local community leader Kabiru Ishaq stated the death toll had reached 10. According to both Ishaq and security briefings, the raid was a direct act of retaliation. Earlier on Saturday, a group of farmers successfully fought off an attempted robbery by armed criminals, killing one of the attackers.

"The bandit's accomplice returned with reinforcements and launched a retaliatory assault," the UN security report noted. 

Last month, at least six farmers were killed and 20 others kidnapped during an attack on Danauta village, also in Birnin Gwari, according to local sources.

(With input from wires)