16 killed as ‘bandits’ attack Zamfara community

Suspected bandits have attacked a community in Kanoma district, Maru local government area of Zamfara state, leaving 16 people dead and 14 injured.

Yusuf Idris, director-general on media to Bello Matawalle, Zamfara governor, confirmed the attack in a press statement in Gusau, the state capital, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Yahaya Mohammed, Kanoma district head, had told the governor that the bandits invaded the area on Wednesday evening and “fired gunshots sporadically”, which led to the death of the 16 persons, with 14 injured.

The statement said the governor visited the community and sympathised with them, adding that the perpetrators will be fished out while the state will bear the cost of treatment for those injured.

“During the visit, the governor also directed security agencies to immediately swing into action and bring the perpetrators to book,” the statement read.

“The governor also directed the movement of 14 persons, who sustained injuries from gunshots from Kanoma General Hospital, to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, for better medical care.

”The bill should be charged to the state government.”

The governor resolved to “join hands with well meaning individuals and groups to bring an end to armed banditry in the state.”

The death toll from bandit attacks have kept rising in the state.

Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor, had said in April that armed bandits have killed over 3,000 persons in the state in the last five years.