Zamfara State Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Bashir Maru has described the recent media reports on the abduction of 60 persons by a gang of bandits from Ruwan Tofa killing 40 persons and burning half of the village as fictious and misleading.
Maru who declared this while briefing members of the media in Gusau on Friday noted that “the true account of what happened was that a group of suspected armed bandits arrived Tungar Baushe on Tuesday 2nd, March 2021, this week and sought to fuel their motorcycles through act of intimidation and coercion, which they did and took along with them food, drugs, water, soft drinks and thereafter left without recording any casualty.
“As they moved out of the village towards the next village of Ruwan Tofa, information spread-out and the Ruwan Tofa community prepared defense of their territory and in the ensuing melee a large number of the suspected armed bandits were resisted and ambushed and many of the incursors were killed and others escaped with different degree of injuries.
“Two people from Ruwan Tofa sustained gunshots injuries and are recuperating in an undisclosed hospital for reason of security.
However, the suspected armed bandits were not done, and the following day, Wednesday 3rd March, 2021, they returned to Tungar Baushe.
“Authoritative sources reported that the bandits attacked the village and burnt down two vehicles loaded with grains and other valuables but no life was lost. Unfortunately, they abducted a number of persons including women and children,” he explained.
He further said most of the abductees have since returned safely to their village and that concerted effort are well underway by the Zamfara State Police command surveillance unit to ascertain the exact number of those still in captivity.
