Gunmen
suspected to be cattle rustlers on Saturday, February 6, attacked Kwanar Dutse
community in Maru local government area of Zamfara state.
Leadership
reports that over 50 persons were killed in the bloody operation that took
place in the wee hour of the night.
According
to a witness, the assailants stormed the community when most residents were
already asleep. The witness said the armed bandits also set houses ablaze
during the raid.
Another
resident who gave his name as Salisu Musa told newsmen that the assailants came
prepared to wreak havoc as each of the motorcycles they came with were mounted
by three passengers.
“I
rushed to the main entrance and peeped through a hole and spotted many
motorcycles, each loaded with three persons armed with heavy rifles,” Musa
said.
Musa
disclosed that he was scared to death when he heard continuous gunshots
accompanied by the cries of women, men and children.
According
to him, the suspected cattle rustlers operated till morning without any
hindrance from security operatives in the area. Musa, who could not confirm the
number of casualties, gave an estimation of at least 50 persons. He said he
counted the corpses during the victim’s burial.
Hamza
Bula, a resident and a witness said the sporadic shootings wake him up from his
sleep.
“I
quickly realized that our community was under house to house attack by
insurgents,”he said.
Bula
revealed that the bandits moved from house to house in a well-coordinated
manner shooting anybody on sight.
The
bandits reportedly left unhindered with unspecified number of cattle after the
bloody attack.
When
the state’s police command spokesman, DSP Sanusi Amiru, was contacted, he
confirmed the attack but insisted that only 12 people lost their lives.
Amiru
further hinted that soldiers and police officers have been deployed to the area
to enhance security.
Recall
that Fulani
herdsmen reportedly attacked three communities in Girei local government area
of Adamawa state in the early hours of Sunday, January 24, leaving
many killed and several others injured.
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