Anthony Iwuoma
Bandits in Zamfara State, in yet another grisly attack, have reportedly killed no fewer than 60 persons in attacks across five villages in the state, which they also burnt down.
The affected communities included Kurfa Danya, Kurfa Magaji, Rafin Gero, Tungar Isa and Barayar Zaki in Bukkuyum and Anka local government areas of the state.
According to a resident: “They (bandits) came in a very large number and on motorbikes firing at residents and torching residential houses and food stores. The residents, especially women and children, scampered to safety.
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“Some of them are taking refuge in Bukkuyum Local Government Area and some other relatively safer communities. The whereabouts of dozens of other residents are still unknown. Up to the wee hours of Thursday, displaced persons were massing up in Nassarawa Burkullu community. Some of them sustained serious injuries from gunshots.”
It was also learnt that the remains of the victims were being gathered for burial. Moreover, people were said to be afraid to venture inside the bushes to recover the bodies of the slain persons.
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Also, reports had it that “a bandits’ leader, known as Shehu Bayade, is the spearhead of deadly raids, kidnappings and cattle rustling in communities in Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi Local Government Areas of the state.
“We believe Turji and his boys were invited by Shehu Bayade to that forest. This is because, in their own thinking, making the vast forest their abode would make their detection by NAF aircraft harder unlike where they had left,” the source said.
Zamfara State has been at the receiving end of bandits in recent times as the criminals relentlessly unleash a reign of terror on the people.