At least 30 people were killed when armed men attacked a village in Kaduna State, Nigeria, early Monday, according to local residents.

Among the victims were eight children, and four more people sustained wounds, residents told africanews.com. Security personnel arrived at the village hours after the attack, they added.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault.

Violence by armed gangs has become a major security challenge across parts of northern Nigeria. The northeast region in particular is battling a deadly insurgency by Islamist militants Boko Haram.

Experts point to corruption, poor intelligence sharing and underfunded local policing as factors that have hindered efforts to combat the militants, according to africanews.com.

In December, the United States carried out airstrikes on two camps run by an Islamist militant group in Nigeria.

The attack in Kaduna State underscores the persistent insecurity facing communities in northern Nigeria, where both criminal gangs and insurgent groups operate with relative impunity.