It was a traumatic condition for the people of Maradun local government area of Zamfara State as armed bandits equipped with deadly weapons mobilized with full force and launched a deadly attack on eleven villages under the local government council.
A confided source from Jihiya one of the invaded communities who spoke to the managing editor of Thunder blowers multimedia services said the bandits riding on dozens of motorcycles launched the invasion around 5:00pm on Thursday moving from one village to another.
The name of the villages invaded according the source are: Gidan Malam Abu, Shandami, Jeringo, Dagwarwa, Jihiya, Daki Hudu, Gidan Runji, Awala, Akuzo, Gidan Mudi and Kaura Dole.
According to another confided source from Shandame said a total of fifteen (15) people were killed by the bandits during the attack even as more than one thousand (1000) cattle, camels and sheep were rustled.
He also said, dozens of grain silos were burnt to ashes even as residential houses and business shops were razed to fire.
The source said he participated in the funeral prayers of the victims and noted that a total of fifteen (15) persons were killed in the attack
.He told this medium that, (3) person were killed at Shandame, (4) others in Jihiya, (2) at Daki Hudu and (1) in Kaura Dole.
He also said four women and a Police Mobile operative was killed at Gidan Runji during the attack.
All the villages attacked were under Maradun North a political territory of Sarkin Gabas Na Maradun the District Head.
He further said, the Chief Imam of Jihiya Jumuat mosque was wounded by the bandits and is currently under admission at the hospital.
When asked on the response of the security agencies, the source said, despite numerous calls made during the attack, the security agencies failed to respond not until 8:30 am on Friday when (3) trucks load of military operatives arrived in the affected areas.
On the part of the state government, the Press Secretary to Governor Bello Matawalle Jamilu Iliyasu Birnin Magaji said the Governor has cancelled his official engagements in Sokoto state and immediately returned to the state to sympathise with the victims of recent Armed bandits attacks in Maradun and Tsafe local Government Areas of Zamfara state.
Birnin Magaji said, Governor Bello Matawalle who was in Sokoto for three official engagements which include the joint Convocation ceremony of Sokoto State University alongside vice president Yemi Osinbajo, Grand Mauloud Ceremony of Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Historic turbanning ceremony of Shettiman Sokoto by the Sultan of Sokoto which has been conferred on him, cancelled all the events and proceeded to Maradun town in order to sympathise and condole with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the attacks.
he further said the Governor directed security agencies in the state to evolve more ways as a further push to bring an end the activities of banditry so as to bring lasting peace and tranquility to the state.
He also directed Traditional rulers and local Government council chairmen to intensify efforts in monitoring the influx of any suspicious characters in their domains.
The Matawallen Maradun also enjoined Imams and other Islamic scholars in all parts of the state to intensify prayers for the return of peace and harmony in the State.
He expressed optimism that with pervent prayers, peace and tranquility will reign so that people can continue to sleep with their two eyes closed.
Confirming the incident, Zamfara State Police Command Public Relations Officer SP Shehu Muhammad said, Police and other security agencies will redouble their commitment and sacrifice to ensure that communities and villages across the state are adequately protected against the menace of armed bandits and other criminal elements.
Shehu further said, the state police commissioner gave the assurance following attacks on the above mentioned communities by some recalcitrant armed bandits which resulted to the unwarranted loss of lives and properties.
To this end, the CP said, the command in synergy with other security agencies has come up with new modus operendi that will compliment the existing security emplacements in the state so that activities of recalcitrant bandits can be rigorously checkmated and stopped completely.
He further said the commissioner of Police further assured the public that, investigation on this barbaric act will not go in vain as the command has commenced a full scale investigation aimed at arresting the perpetrators and prosecute them according to the law of the land.
The Command therefore appealed for continuous support and collaboration from members of the public with timely and credible information on activities of criminal elements for prompt response.
