The spate of wanton killings in Zamfara state has worsened with the killing of Senator Kabiru Marafa’s elder sister, Hajiya Ade Marafa, and abduction of her husband by armed bandits at Ruwan Bore community in Gusau local government area of the state.
A resident, Sani Ahmed of Mada town, a neighbourhood of Ruwan Bore, told Blueprint the bandits attacked the communities around 9:00pm on Monday.
In the process, 13 people were killed and many houses set ablaze.
“The bandits killed the elder sister of Senator Marafa and kidnapped her husband, Alhaji Ibrahim, who is a district head of Ruwan Bore village, and moved to Tudun Wadan Maijatau and Takoka villages, launched similar attacks on them. And as I am talking to you now, no one can ascertain how many people have been killed there,” Ahmed said.
On Sunday, nine people were similarly killed in the same community of Ruwan Bore and Tudun Wadanmaijatau villages, leaving 26 persons injured.
Marafa’s aide
In a similar version of the incident, Marafa’s Personal Assistant Abubakar Abdullahi Tsafe, said the hoodlums numbering over 100, stormed the victims’ residence in Ruwan Bore in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday.)
Disclosing this in a statement, Tsafe said the bandits abducted the deceased’s husband and his brother after killing the former’s wife.
“The kidnappers bearing dangerous weapons including guns, operated at the residence and in the whole village for hours from 3.am this morning.
“More than half of Ruwan Bore village has been burnt by the bandits. The villagers are now seeking refuge at Mada, a neighbouring community while Alhaji Ibrahim is yet to be released by the killers of his wife.”
The sister of the lawmaker has since been buried in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
Marafa had on several occasions, expressed reservations over the state government’s handling of the security challenge facing the state.
Police confirm
Meanwhile, the Zamfara Police Command yesterday said 15 persons were killed and six others kidnapped in Gusau local government area of the state.
The police also confirmed the bandits attack on Wonaka, Ajja, Mada, Ruwan Baure, Doka, Takoka and Tudun Maijatau, all in the local government.
It said the district head of Gwashi in Bukkuyum local government area reported that armed bandits stormed Batauna village and killed 11 persons, and setting several houses ablaze.
The police were however yet to confirm this figure as at the time of filing in this report last night, saying details of the casualty figure were still sketchy.
Spokesman of the command, Muhammad Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, however, said the six abducted women had regained their freedom.
He also said normalcy had returned to the affected villages following the deployment of Special Forces and the military.
He said the attack was presumably a reprisal, in reaction to an earlier attack on some Fulani on January 1.
In the attack, he said seven Fulani and some cows were killed and set ablaze by an outlawed group- “Yansakai”.
“Units of PMF/CTU/Special Forces and military were mobilised to complement the effort of security personnel already on the ground and also confirm the authenticity of the report from Bukkuyum,” he said.
”The entire axis and environs have been subjected to coordinate bush combing for possible arrest of the perpetrators. The command calls on members of the public to avoid taking laws into their hands but report all complaint and grievances to a constituted authority for legal redress.
“Discreet investigation into this act has already commenced, and all perpetrators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
PDP, APC suspend campaign
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle has suspended the party’s campaign in sympathy with victims of the latest attack in the state.
Announcing this in a statement in Gusau yesterday, Matawalle condemned the attack and killing at the country home of Senator Marafa.
He said the recent attacks in several towns and villages in the state were clear failure of the federal and state governments, especially, now when people were set for election.
“We are concerned with the current security challenge, especially as we are approaching election. Therefore, if government is serious, it ought to take necessary action to tackle the menace.”
Also, the All Progressives Congress in the state has suspended its campaign rally scheduled to hold in Tsafe local government area.
