Insecurity: Gunmen displace over 500 persons in Zamfara

Bandits attacked and killed 5 persons and abducted another 5 in Maru Local government area of Zamfara State on Sunday.

A BBC Hausa service report monitored on Tuesday by Solacebase said that insecurity has forced more than 500 people from 6 communities in Maru local government area of Zamfara to flee into Merere town in Kebbi State after bandits attacked the towns and set their farms ablaze.

According to some of the refugees, most of the displaced persons were women and children who are now living in an open place and close to a graveyard in Kebbi State.

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The report said that more displaced persons from Zamfara are still trooping into Kebbi while appealing for food assistance.

“Nobody can go to his farm without fear of being kidnapped by the notorious armed bandits, as many farmlands have been set on fire by gunmen,’’ one of the victims lamented.

Another displaced victim, a mother of 15 children from Dan Kofar village said gunmen have killed some of their neighbours and went away with others.

She added that the affected communities are Dan Fasa, Guru, Dogon Ruwa, Bakin Dutse, Bakin Kofa, and  Buraya in Maru Local government of Zamfara State.

Also in the report, gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a traditional ruler in Gwaram town Alhaji Umaru Muhammad Marafan Gwaram at Talatar Marafa local government in Zamfara State.

It said the gunmen also abducted 8 persons from the traditional ruler’s community.

According to the report, Zamfara Police Spokesperson, Muhammad Shehu was not available for comments as his phone was not attended to even after several calls.