Gunmen suspected of being bandits raided Rijiya village in Zamfara State’s Gusau Local Government Area, killing six people and kidnapping numerous.
Musa Sani, a resident of the area who fled to Gusau town, said the bandits arrived on motorbikes at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday and began shooting at people.
He claimed he was in another part of the village when he heard gunfire and locals calling for assistance. This prompted him to flee to the protection of the bush.
Sani said: “I was in the other part of the village when I heard gunshots and the screaming of the villagers. I quickly ran to a nearby farm where I hid until the bandits left the village.
“When they left the village, we discovered that they had shot and killed six people and wounded several others.
“They also abducted many women and children whose number is yet to be ascertained. I decided to leave the village to Gusau for fear that the bandits might return because this is not the first time these criminals are attacking us,”
Spokesperson of the state police command, Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached for comment at press time.
Meanwhile, despite the state government’s security steps to combat the threat, the bandits continue to assault the people of the state.
Due to bandit raids, many farmers have abandoned their farms and have been unable to harvest their crops.
Similarly, several villages have been abandoned, and a considerable number of internally displaced people have moved to Gusau town to beg for food.
Ada Peter
