Bandits kill district head, 4 others in Zamfara, as police rescue kidnap victims

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Hundreds of bike-riding bandits,Tuesday, invaded Gada district under Bungudu Local Government area of Zamfara State killing an 82 year old district head, Malam Umaru Muhammad alongside 4 other members of the community after setting his residence ablaze.

A survivor of the attack identified as Malam Yunusa, told our reporter that the bandits invaded the town around 11:00am Tuesday and were there for several hours during which they requested the district head to go with them, but opened fire on him and his son for refusal to comply with their directive.

Yunusa further narrated that the bandits also barricaded all possible entries into the town to prevent any attempt for rescue and to ensure nobody from the attacked community gets a slight opportunity to escape.

“The bandits had begun shooting sporadically to notify the entire village of their unwanted arrival, they later embarked on searching houses for valuables and foodstuffs after which they set many houses ablaze including the district’s head.

“The bandits have unfortunately kidnapped an unidentified number of people mostly women and children and went away with them, we are now trying to ascertain the exact number of the community members that have become victims”, Yunusa added.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba Elkana, said on receiving the information, the Police tactical team in collaboration with military and vigilante responded promptly and engaged the assailants to a serious gunbattle.

“The Joint Tactical Teams were able to dispersed the hoodlums, rescued 9 kidnapped victims including a one year old baby. Presently, normalcy has been restored in the affected area and it’s environs with improved confidence building patrol”, Elkana has assured.