Some residents of Mada community in Gusau local government area of Zamfara state have fled their homes as a result of armed bandit attacks, which led to the death of seven (7) vigilante members in the area.

BBC Hausa service reported that, among those killed include a popular vigilante leader which is known in the area.

A source said, members of the vigilante in the area spent hours exchanging fire with the bandits without the help and support of the conventional security operatives, especially the army operatives who are stationed in the area.

Narrating how the incident occurred, the source said the bandits attempted to invade Mada district since 10:00pm on Sunday but were prevented by members of vigilante who engaged them on fire exchange.

He further said, few days back some suspected armed bandits who specialize in road blockage along the area have been arrested and later killed by the people of the area.

“Our greatest concern is that when the military operatives that are stationed in the area were invited to support the vigilante, they refused to come until after casualties are recorded on the site of the vigilante, and they later went and picked the corpses”.

“When it is time for the vigilante members to prepare for the fasting some of them came back to prepare and the remaining that were left in the defensive were re-engaged by the bandits leading to the killing of seven of them”.

“The soldiers have means of communication with the vigilante and when they were called, they moved toward the main stream at the exit part of Mada town, but they refused to move head-on and help the vigilante until after seven of them were killed, they then went to pick the corpses. I went there and I saw them”.

When asked why they did not invite the police if the army refused to offer help to the members of the vigilante, the source said “if the army refused to confront the bandits how do you expect the police to do the same? They can do it”.

Asked why he said police cannot do it, he replied “before the members of vigilante re-grouped to defend the town, the bandits used to come into the town do what they want to do and leave, and you cannot make the mistake of reporting them to the police. Last time they came to the main town and enforce fine on one of my friend on the broad-day light and nothing happened”.

He said villages of Rafi, Ajja, and Mutu had been under the control of the armed bandits for sometimes now.

Zamfara police spokesperson SP Shehu Muhammad confirmed the development to BBC Hausa service and stated that, more armed police officers have been deployed to strengthen the security of the area.