Black Wednesday: Zamfara in Deep Mourning as Bandits Raid 6 Communities, Kill 45 People, Dozens Missing
- Some communities in Zamfara state are counting their losses after armed bandits attacked them on Wednesday, April 21
- The multiple attacks allegedly led to the loss of at least 45 lives while the whereabouts of many residents are still unknown
- Several houses and shops were also reportedly burnt down by the bandits
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Zamfara state has been thrown into deep mourning by some suspected armed bandits who launched multiple attacks in six communities on Wednesday, April 21, killing at least 45 people.
According to Daily Trust, dozens of people including women and children are missing in the aftermath of the attacks.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng gathers that the bandits also razed down shops and public and private buildings. The affected communities are in Magami District of Gusau local government area, namely; Yar Doka, Kango, Ruwan Dawa, Madaba, Arzikin Da and Mairairai.
Residents were cited as saying that the armed men first laid siege on Yar Doka village on motorbikes and shot anyone at sight.
One of the traumatized residents said the whereabouts of dozens of people who escaped the attack is still unknown.
It was learnt that the same bandits proceeded to another village called Kango and shot dead at least 11 people.
A resident, Halliru Bala, said the armed men also killed 13 people in Ruwan Dawa community along Gusau-Dansadau road.
Bala was quoted to have said:
“They also shot dead seven people at Madaba, two at Mairairai and five people at Arzikin Da communities.
“As I am talking to you, the seven bodies of the slain residents had already been brought to Magami town and they would be buried this evening immediately after Iftar."
Bala said most of the dead victims were those who had gone to offer help to the communities under attack.
BBC Hausa put the number of casualties at more than 50 in its own report of the incident.
Police, state government keep mum
Daily Trust stated that the police command in Zamfara state is yet to respond to its request to confirm the development.
The newspaper added that repeated calls to Zamfara commissioner for security and home affairs, Abubakar Dauran, on Wednesday night were not answered.
State government speaks on separate attacks
However, the state commissioner for information, Ibrahim Dosara, later spoke on separate attacks launched by bandits on Tuesday, April 20, Daily Trust stated.
The newspaper noted the attacks the commissioner talked about happened in some villages in Maradun and Bakura local government areas.
Many people were also reportedly killed during the attacks.
The commissioner said Governor Bello Mohammed was saddened by the incident and condemned it in the strongest terms.
He said:
“The government also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the sad event and is taking every necessary steps to ensure that the culprits are brought to book."
Dosara said a government delegation led by the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, has visited the affected communities to pay the state government’s condolences and sympathize with the families of the deceased.
Traditional ruler suspended
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Governor Matawalle of Zamfara state suspended the district head of Badarawa in Shinkafi emirate, Surajo Namakkah.
Namakkah's suspension followed his conferment of a title on a military officer arrested for selling ammunition to bandits.
The Zamfara state governor said his government would not tolerate anything capable of destroying the hard-earned "peace" of the state.
Source: Legit.ng
