Another 25 Killed in Fresh Zamfara Attack

By Yari orders investigation

At least 25 people were killed on Saturday night when gunmen stormed three communities in Zamfara State, an official said.

The lawmaker representing Zurmi West in the state House of Assembly, Yusuf Moriki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at Dole, Tudun Bugaje and Kwangwami communities in Zurmi Local Government Area.

Moriki said 25 were killed, while many others were injured during the attack.

“So far, we have the record of 25 people who were killed during the attack, while many others injured have been taken to hospital for treatment,” he said.

The bandits attacked the villages on Saturday night after carrying out similar attacks in some communities at neighbouring Shinkafi Local Government Area, the previous day.

Saturday’s attack occured about two weeks after gunmen killed over 40 people in another attack in Zamfara.

The gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers stormed a mining site in Gidan Ardo Village of Bindin district of Maru Local Government Area.

Witnesses in the area said the gunmen, numbering over 70, rode into the mining site at around 3p.m. on November 7 and shot anyone on sight, killing over 40 persons and injuring several others.

 Meanwhile, state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has ordered full investigation into the circumstances that led to Friday’s abduction of over 40 persons by gunmen in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, and made available to journalists in Gusau at the weekend.

Dosara also said the governor had ordered an immediate investigation into the activities of the bandits in the state with a view to restoring peace in the area.

Eyewitnesses said  the gunmen numbering over 100 stopped three Toyota Canters carrying passengers from Dansadau to Dankurmi and diverted the vehicles at gunpoint to an unknown destination.

The hoodlums abducted all the passengers , except one woman who they spared alongside her three-year-old son and told her to report back what happened.

The woman was said to have reported back to Dansadau that the bandits would not release the hostages until the governor released their cows numbering over 400 which were recovered from them by security men recently, within seven days.

A joint security patrol had recovered the rustled cows from the criminals during which seven members of the gang were also killed near Bindin village of Maru Local Government Area.

Shortly after the abduction of the villagers, a team of mobile policemen went on a rescue mission but the bandits shot and killed two of them and also went away with a third.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Muhammad Shehu, said a joint security patrol was already on the trail of the bandits, assuring residents that they would soon be arrested.