Over 40,000 people forced into Niger from Nigeria by violence: UNHCR

GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said Friday that an upsurge of violent attacks on civilians over the past 10 months has forced more than 40,000 people to cross from northwest Nigeria into Niger.

People are seeking safety from indiscriminate attacks unleashed by organized armed groups on civilians, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said at a UN media briefing here.

"The escalating violence in the Nigerian states of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina -- violence by groups other than Boko Haram -- has led to a new humanitarian emergency in Niger's border regions," Baloch said.