25 killed as gunmen attack 3 communities in Zamfara

Reports say some gunmen attacked three communities in Zamfara state in the night of Saturday, November 19 killing at least 25 people. Premium Times reports that a lawmaker, Yusuf Moriki, representing Zurmi West in the state House of Assembly, reportedly revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to the lawmaker, the incidents occurred at Dole, Tudun Bugaje and Kwangwami communities in Zurmi local government area of the state, adding that 25 were killed, while many others were injured. He said: “So far, we have the record of 25 people who were killed during the attack, while many others injured have been taken to hospital for treatment.” A similar attack had occurred in some communities in Shinkafi local government area, on Friday, November 18 with many reported dead. On November 7, another attack by gunmen in the state resulted in the death of over 40 people.
In the attack, about 70 gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers entered a mining site in Gidan Ardo Village in the Bindin district of Maru local government area around 3 pm. They shot anyone on sight while on Friday, November 18, 40 other people were abducted from the same local government. Dan Awunah, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in the state, said seven of the victims were members of the communities where the hoodlums attacked. He said two other victims were police officers and that his colleagues in mobile force and the counter-terrorism unit had been deployed to the area to restore law and order. He commended security agencies in the state for their efforts to restore peace and stability in the area, adding that more needed to be done. He appealed for calm in the affected areas and urged the people to continue to pray and seek God’s intervention in the security challenges facing the state and the country.