By Rafiu Ajakaye

ABBA, Nigeria

Suspected cattle rustlers have killed at least 30 civilians in Nigeria's northwestern Sokoto state, said the president's media office late Tuesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari ordered "immediate security crackdown on every hideout of the criminals", his media office said.

The latest spate of violence has added to the fears that a fresh militancy may be in the offing in northwestern Nigeria.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the neighboring northwestern state of Zamfara in attacks blamed on "bandits" believed to be cattle thieves.

Nigeria still battles Boko Haram in the northeast where over 25,000 have died and nearly 3 million displaced since 2009 when the crisis began.

"President Buhari is shocked and saddened by the latest violence which he described as utterly evil, callous, reckless, thoughtless and reprehensible."