Three days after several
citizens of Zamfara state were killed by bandits in two separate
attacks, Governor Abdulaziz Yari is yet to return to the state.
The governor, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has remained in Abuja attending various functions.
Bandits suspected to be cattle
rustlers had Wednesday attacked Birane villa in Zurmi local government
killing 18 persons, according to the police.
The spokesperson of the police in the
state, Muhammad Shehu, in a statement Thursday said hunters from Birani
village intercepted and accosted a suspected cattle rustler herding in
the bush with some ‘stolen’ cattle and sheep.
“The herder abandoned the animals and
escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler
went to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits
to attack the hunters.
“On February 14, the bandits ambushed
the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatality on
both sides,” Mr. Shehu said.
Vanguard newspaper quoted a witness,
Hussaini Abdu, who said that the bandits “arrived in large numbers and
on motorbikes, intercepting and killing people who were coming or going
out of the village. About 41 people were shot dead within a short period
of time.”
He also said a commercial motorbike
rider conveying a woman and her three children was killed and his
motorbike burnt, while the whereabouts of the woman and her children are
still unknown.
A journalist based in Gusau, the
capital city of Zamfara state told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the
bandits “returned to the village again on Thursday and killed more
people. So far, I can confirm to you that 74 persons have been killed.”
The journalist who declined to be named due to safety concerns also said Birane villa is difficult to access.
“You can’t drive there from here, you
need to take two different motorcycles after parking your car to get to
Birane and it’s a dangerous journey because of the bandits,” he said.
State government reacts
Contacted Thursday, the state
commissioner of Information, Sanda Danjari, said he was still trying to
confirm if the attacks took place.
“I heard it on Radio France this
morning, but I am yet to confirm,” Mr. Danjari, who said he was
travelling, told PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone.
Asked whether the governor was aware, Mr. Danjari said he tried “without success to speak with the governor.”
“I tried his ADC and Sani Garba but I couldn’t get them. I wanted to confirm if His Excellency heard too,” he said.
PREMIUM TIMES can confirm that Mr.
Yari chaired a meeting of the NGF, Wednesday night and he also attended
the meeting of the National Economic Council Thursday at the
presidential villa Abuja.
Premium Times
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