Bandits kill 14 in Zamfara attack
Suspected armed bandits on Wednesday killed fourteen people in an attack on Babban Rafi village in Gwalli District of Gummi local government area of Zamfara state, Daily Trust has gathered.
A resident of Barikin Daji village told Daily Trust that the armed men invaded the village on about 43 motorbikes around 9am in the morning hours, asked the residents to stay indoors and went round house-to-house collecting mobile phones, money and other valuables.
“They told the residents that they were heading to Babban Rafi village on a Jihad mission. But unknown to them, one of the residents had escaped went and informed the people of Babban Rafi that the armed men were on their way to attack the community. The timely information had helped dozens to escape by fleeing the village”
“But they killed at least 13 people and made away with herds of cattle and other domestic animals. They told the residents that they were on a Jihad and that any resistance would be very calamitous on the entire community,” he added.
The spokesman of the state police command SP Muhammad Shehu said large number of armed bandits suspected to have come from neighbouring Kebbi state stormed the village firing at residents.
“Combined teams of PMF/ CTU/ FSARS attached to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in conjunction with men from ‘Operation Hadarin Daji’ were mobilized to the area with a view to trailing the perpetrators and check further attack on neighbouring villages,” he said.
He said discreet investigation would be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the dastardly act.
It could be recalled that Zamfara state government had reached a peace deal with local militia groups Yansakai, including the armed bandits and other warring groups in June last year, which led to the return of peace and stability in the state and its environs.
The police command said despite the return of peace, it is collaborating with other security agencies to deal with the recalcitrant bandits who refused to tow the line of peace.