Bandits Attack Five Zamfara Communities, Kill over 25 People

No fewer than 25 people have been killed and many others injured
when bandits attacked five communities in two local government
areas of Zamfara State.

Residents of the affected communities confirmed the attacks and
the casualties yesterday.

They noted that the bandits, in large numbers, invaded the
communities on Saturday afternoon and started shooting
sporadically, killing innocent residents in the process.

The affected communities – Gabaken, Rigiya, Donroyi, Torawa, and
Riwoji are located in Zurmi and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas
of the state.

“They (the bandits) attacked a village called Gabaken and killed
five people; in Torawa, they killed five people. One person was
killed in a village called Rigiya; a village called Donroyi in
Zurmi Local Government, they killed four people.

“In a village called Riwoji where I come from, they killed four
and injured seven people, including my father’s younger brother,”
said one of the witnesses, Umar Abubakar.

He added that the injured persons were taken to the general
hospitals in Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji, and Gusau where two of
them were later confirmed dead.

Another eyewitness, Alhaji Torawa, who spoke with Channels
Television, said the bandits stormed Torawa community at a time
when residents were observing the afternoon prayer.

He noted that the armed men surrounded the area and began to
shoot sporadically, lamenting that he lost two of his family
members to the attack.

Speaking in his local dialect, Torawa narrated, “They told us
bandits have rounded our village. The bandits came into the
villages on motorcycles and fired gunshots sporadically, killing
many villagers.

“They were many that invaded the villages and two of my family
members were among those killed by the bandits.”

“We were inside hiding because the bandits were many … the
bandits shot at me and I pretended as if I was dead, that was why
they left me,” another victim, Ibrahim Riwoji, recounted his
experience.

He added, “I can remember I saw only two other victims by my
side.”

Although police authorities in the state have confirmed the
attacks, they did not give the number of those killed and injured
by the gunmen.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Mohammed
Shehu, noted that police tactical teams have been deployed in the
affected areas to restore normalcy in the communities.

He also appealed to the residents to be calm and go about their
normal activities, saying the police were on top of the
situation.

No fewer than 25 people have been killed and many others injured
when bandits attacked five communities in two local government
areas of Zamfara State.

Residents of the affected communities confirmed the attacks and
the casualties yesterday.

They noted that the bandits, in large numbers, invaded the
communities on Saturday afternoon and started shooting
sporadically, killing innocent residents in the process.

The affected communities – Gabaken, Rigiya, Donroyi, Torawa, and
Riwoji are located in Zurmi and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas
of the state.

“They (the bandits) attacked a village called Gabaken and killed
five people; in Torawa, they killed five people. One person was
killed in a village called Rigiya; a village called Donroyi in
Zurmi Local Government, they killed four people.

“In a village called Riwoji where I come from, they killed four
and injured seven people, including my father’s younger brother,”
said one of the witnesses, Umar Abubakar.

He added that the injured persons were taken to the general
hospitals in Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji, and Gusau where two of
them were later confirmed dead.

Another eyewitness, Alhaji Torawa, who spoke with Channels
Television, said the bandits stormed Torawa community at a time
when residents were observing the afternoon prayer.

He noted that the armed men surrounded the area and began to
shoot sporadically, lamenting that he lost two of his family
members to the attack.

Speaking in his local dialect, Torawa narrated, “They told us
bandits have rounded our village. The bandits came into the
villages on motorcycles and fired gunshots sporadically, killing
many villagers.

“They were many that invaded the villages and two of my family
members were among those killed by the bandits.”

“We were inside hiding because the bandits were many … the
bandits shot at me and I pretended as if I was dead, that was why
they left me,” another victim, Ibrahim Riwoji, recounted his
experience.

He added, “I can remember I saw only two other victims by my
side.”

Although police authorities in the state have confirmed the
attacks, they did not give the number of those killed and injured
by the gunmen.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Mohammed
Shehu, noted that police tactical teams have been deployed in the
affected areas to restore normalcy in the communities.

He also appealed to the residents to be calm and go about their
normal activities, saying the police were on top of the
situation.