Bandits attack Zamfara village, kill 6, abduct many

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked Rijiya village in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during which they killed six people and several others abducted.

A resident of the village, Musa Sani, who fled to Gusau town, said the bandits, who were on motorcycles, came to the village around 1.30p.m., on Sunday and began to shoot at people.

He said he was in the other part of the village when he heard gunshots and screaming of the villagers, who were shouting for help. This made him run to the bush for safety.

Sani said: “I was in the other part of the village when I heard gunshots and the screaming of the villagers. I quickly ran to a nearby farm where I hid until the bandits left the village.

“When they left the village, we discovered that they had shot and killed six people and wounded several others.

“They also abducted many women and children whose number is yet to be ascertained. I decided to leave the village to Gusau for fear that the bandits might return because this is not the first time these criminals are attacking us,”

Spokesperson of the state police command, Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached for comment at press time.

Meanwhile, the bandits, Vanguard gathered, are still attacking the people of the state despite the security measures taken by the state government to stop the menace.

Many farmers have abandoned their farmlands and could not harvest their crops due to persistent attacks by the bandits.

Similarly, many villages have been deserted, while a large number of internally displaced persons have relocated to Gusau town where they begged for food.