Zamfara: Bandits kill 50 in fresh attack

No fewer than 50 People have been reported killed by Bandits in five villages of Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara state in a fresh attack.

Witness identified as Mohammed Sani Dauran in an interview with Blueprint via telephone said the Bandits at around 6:30pm on Thursday stormed Kadawa village under Dauran District and killed 50 people – all men and later moved to Kwata, Gandan Samu, Maduba, Magarya and Saulawa villages in the same area and made away with their yet to be ascertained number of livestocks belonging to the communities.

“As I am talking to you now, over 50 dead body of our people have been dumped at Dauran Divisional Police outpost station and we don’t know when they will be buried and some of our people ran to the bush but the Bandits trailed and killed some of them,” Dauran said.

He said already 28 bodies have been buried according to Islamic right in Zurmi town, the Headquarters of Zurmi LGA while 14 were conveyed to Gusau by the state Commissioner of Police for burial.

He appealed to Zamfara state and federal government to as a matter of urgency come to their rescue as all their villages affected with Banditry were deserted as a result of attacks.

“So far, we have over 1,000 people mainly children and women who have fled to Dauran for their safety,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the incident, but said 14 people were killed and taken to Gusau by the state police Commissioner for mass burial at Unguwar Gwaza Cemetery on Friday.

Blueprint had earlier reported that Zamfara state governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has directed communities across the state not to fold their arms and watch criminals attack them, but to defend themselves where necessary.

He gave the directive on Friday during a special sermon session to mark his second year anniversary in office held at Gusau Eid ground.

The governor cancelled the two years anniversary celebration slated for Saturday as a result of incessant attacks on communities by Bandits in some parts of the state in recent times.