Bloodbath Again In Zamfara as Bandits kill 42, sack 18 communities, displace 12,000

A new development was introduced into the killings in Zamfara State, yesterday, as armed bandits sacked 18 communities, killing 42 people and displacing over 12,000 in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

The incidents occurred few days after the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, completed an operational tour of the NAF Unit Gusau, the state capital.

A source from Zurmi Local government area, Amiru Musa Mashena, who narrowly escaped the attack, told Sunday Telegraph that the bandits had between Tuesday to Thursday, sacked 18 villages and killed anybody in sight, including small children and women totaling 42 persons.

The towns and villages attacked include Tungar Nasara, Gambiro, Inwala, Jena, Kalage and Kwaddi all in Zurmi Local Government.

Others are Mashema, Kwashabawa, Birane Tumfa, Tungar Fulani, Garkuwa, Tunani, Duka, Gidan Dutse, Gidan Kayya and Gidan Tsika among others.

Amiru, further said 17 persons sustained serious injuries and have been conveyed to Yariman Bakura Hospital in Gusau and others taken to Zurmi General Hospital receiving treatment.

Mashema, stated that the bandits had also set some of the houses ablaze after they dispersed the villagers, who were mostly women and children.

Amiru, therefore, called on the Federal Government to look into the daily carnage in Zamfara, stressing that “despite number of Army and Air Force personnel deployed to the state.

The Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, who visited the local government while speaking at the Emir’s palace, appealed to the Federal Government to provide sustainable security in the state.

The Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the State Government’s Damage Assessment and Relief Committee, in a meeting with all the top officers of security agencies in the state, said they are in Zurmi to deliver state government’s message of relief materials to the families of the victims of attacks in some communities in the area.

The meeting was attended by the General Commanding Officer of Nigerian Army Division 1, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Muhammada Muhammad, State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson, State Director of Security Service and Alhaji Hadi Sudawa among others.

According to Rikiji, they were in Zurmi to deliver state government’s message of relief materials to the families of the victims of attacks in some communities in the area.

“The state is under siege. What we are seeing here today is quite unfortunate. Over 12, 000 people, especially women and children have been displaced from their homes by bandits.

“What we are experiencing in Zurmi town is worrisome, we are in trouble. We are not saved; so we are calling on security agencies to stand up and do what is right to protect our people. The security situation of this state requires general study system review; this situation has never happen in the history of this country. We did not experience this kind of crises during the civil war,” he said.

On the latest attack in Maradun Local Government, seven persons were said to have been killed at Yan’ kamoji, nine at Sabon Gida, 11 at Tubali and two at Kaya village.

The gunmen also abducted about 40 traders after killing two policemen and four civilians in Mai Kansa village in Maru Local Government Area of the Zamfara.

Confirming the latest killing, the Speaker said: “Just few minutes ago, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government Area called and told me about another serious attack in his area.

“Some of the displaced persons died while running from their communities to Zurmi, some pregnant women delivered new babies while walking to Zurmi, new born babies have been washed with water from gutter.

“As I am speaking, three districts under Zurmi Emirate are now under the control of these bandits. It is no longer under the control of the Nigerian government, which means that they have taken over all the land.

“We have directed the State Commissioner of Education to close all the schools in this area so that we can use the schools to accommodate these displaced people.

“Also, as I am talking to you people, all the villages of these people have been burnt down; their properties including money were also burnt to ashes. This is to tell you that these attacks are not for economic reason.

“These bandits are after destruction of lives and property of our people, so security agencies must wake up, you have to wake up to intervene for our people,” he said.

Earlier, the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, described the incidents as worrisome and lamented the inadequacy of security personnel in the area.

Atiku urged the government to provide adequate security in the area so that the people would be able to return to their various communities.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, urged indigenes of the state to embark on prayers to seek Allah’s intervention to overcome the situation.

“We don’t know how to express our anger and worry on what is happening to our people in our own state. We are going to continue this meeting with the security agencies on how to address the situation,” he said.