Bandits kill 22 in Zamfara villages

Dozens of gunmen arrived on motor bikes firing at residents. They raided and torched the villages of Tungar Kahau, Mallamawa, and Gidan Anna communities. The residents of the attacked communities were observing Juma’at prayers when the gunmen laid siege and started setting residential houses ablaze. “They surrounded the villages and then torched the houses there. They blocked all escape routes and killed who ever tried to escape the carnage. They killed at least 17 persons at Tungar Dahau village and I have no clear picture of the loss of lives in other communities,” a resident, Sani Abdullahi said. “In Mallamawa village, at least five residents were shot dead and dozens of cows and other domestic animals carted away. They killed any animal that refused to go with them,” another resident, Idris Haruna said. But, in Gidan Anna community they couldn’t kill anyone there as the residents had earlier fled the village when they sensed trouble. However, the gunmen burnt the residential houses and other properties and then fled. He said the bandits then vowed to attack other identified villages of Gidan Na Babba, Bassana and Gidan Rijiya. “As I’m talking to you now, no security agent is seen there and some of the villagers have fled the communities,” he added. Last month, suspected armed bandits in the state ambushed troops deployed for the operations in the forest and around the villages. The ambush followed the soldiers’ raid on suspected camps of the armed bandits that have been terrorizing hapless rural communities in the state. The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Muhammad Shehu, said he was not aware of the attacks. “Give me sometimes, I would get back to you if I confirm,” Shehu said.]]>