Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday killed at least 23 people in attacks on Tunga and Kabaje villages in Sakajiki district of Kaura Namoda local government area of Zamfara state, Daily Trust gathered.
Residents said dozens of gunmen arrived on motorbikes around 5: 30 am shortly after Sahur meal and they started firing at them. They said some of the residents were trapped and got killed on farms.
“What happened was that a group of local vigilantes otherwise known as ‘Yan sakai’ intercepted and executed a commercial motorbike rider conveying the wife and son of a bandit from a forest to nearby village”
“The commercial rider, had for quite a long time, been suspected of becoming an informant to armed bandits in forest and also serving as their errand boy. Following the development, he was kept under close watch and was seen carrying a wife and son of a suspected gunman”
“Owing to this, the rider was killed along side his passengers. I think this is what triggered the retaliation by the armed men. As I speak to you, we are at the cemetery preparing for the burial of the victims. I can see fighter jets hovering around in search of the attackers. We are here together with soldiers and other security operatives,” a resident Aliyu Yushau said.
Meanwhile, the council chairman of Kaura Namoda local government area Alhaji Lawal Isah Abdullahi has confirmed the attack saying that efforts were being made to bury the victims and ensure the security of other communities.