Armed men killed at least 40 people in two villages in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna in the early hours of Monday, said the state government and two residents.

The Kaduna state governments said in a statement that 34 people were killed in the village of Madamai. 

One resident, who spoke to our correspondent Bosan Yakusak said he counted 44 corpses in the local mortuary from attacks on Madamai a neighboring Abum village. 

The government statement said security forces had mobilized to the location and also came under fire, before forcing the assailants to withdraw after an intense exchange.

A victim also said wielding guns and machetes, the men entered the Madamai and Abum on foot around 5pm blocking the entrance of the village.