Some suspected bandits numbering over 100 have invaded five communities in Maradun local government area of Zamfara State and killed over forty persons.
According to an eyewitness who craved for anonymity said the villages which were invaded include Gidan Adamu, Gidan Baushi, Gidan Maidaji, Tsauni, and Wari all in Faru district of Maradun local government area of the state.
He said they came to the affected villages via more than two hundred motorcycles and started shooting sporadically, a circumstance that create serious panic among the residents.
He explained that they spent close to five hours conducting the operation, saying, they came to the villages around 12:30pm on Thursday and left for their hideouts after 5:00pm.
According to him, the attack left over 43 persons killed while several others were badly wounded and are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Maradun and Gusau local government areas respectively.
He said within those hours which the operation lasted, security operatives, especially military have actively engaged the bandits through an encounter which left some of the bandits and military wounded.
He added that, even while the funeral prayer was ongoing in the morning, the sounds of gunshots were heard ringing the air and many became scared.
He also said they have carted away undisclosed number of cattle during the operation, even as he lamented that they burnt many places and valuable properties.
He stated that last week they raided many villages in Kaya district of Maradun and killed over 21 persons in the operations noting that it has been long when bandits attack the district.
He added that because people of the area become scared, they have deserted their homes and take refuge at Maradun and other neighboring towns.
He lamented that even with the effects of what happened, government has not made ready a designated camp for the refugees as people had to look for safe homes of their relations to lodge for the temporary.
Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the killing of thirty-five to BBC Hausa service and assured that it has taken appropriate security measures aimed at containing the situation.
