Panic hits Zamfara as bandits kill scores in village raids, set houses on fire

ZAMFARA, Nigeria – Bandits have practically overrun Zamfara State, killing, abducting and burning houses, leaving residents in a perpetual state of fear. Among villages hit by recent attacks are Kalale, Kango, Tasa, Fanteka Sanawa, Farar Doka, Sabuwar Kasuwa, Akuso and Zanoka among others.

We gathered that the attacks have left residents impoverished, while many have been chased away by rampaging bandits even from the locations of their subsistence mining, and farming with reports suggesting that the situation is getting worst.

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“Apart from pockets of attacks that often go unreported; the attack by bandits in Dokar Alasan village in Dangulbe district in Maru LGA on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 took the lives of 15 villagers. Within this period over 10 clusters of villages were attacked by bandits”, Journalist, Amad Salkida reported

We were informed that though the security forces have killed dozens of bandits, two members of the JTF have been killed by bandits. Those who are lucky, we gathered managed to escape. Among them is Maijidda, whom, we gathered was abducted with her grandmother.

“Villagers are living both in fear of ubiquitous bandits and the new pronouncement by government officials. Nevertheless, we have photos taken at the burial of 4 persons (pictured here), from Kursasa and Badarawa killed by bandits in Shinkafi LGA on Saturday January 19, 2019”, Amad Salkida said in a number of tweets.

We gathered that the Zamfara government has teamed up with security forces to ensure that pictures of mass burial are not shot, with threats that those who report the incidents on the social media will be dealth with in what has been seen as an official cover up.

Social crusader, Ahmad Salkida reported the wanton killing in Zamfara in a series of tweets.

“People are impoverished already. Chased away by rampaging bandits from their locations of subsistence mining and farming, their condition can only grow from gory to grave. #StopTheKillingsInZamfara

“The inability to stop the killings, abductns & burning down of entire communities in #Zamfara have sparked a wave of displacements, & the govt’s unwillingness to setup camps to help the displaced with food, medicals & shelter has worsened the humanitarian calamity in the state.

“Maijidda who was abducted along with more than ten other occupants of the vehicle they were travelling in at Jibia-GurbinBore-Zurmi road has gory tales of her experience. She is receiving treatment from trauma severe injuries she sustained and in desperate need of assistance.

“Dozens of the bandits were reportedly killed & about 2 members of the JTF lost their lives while others sustained injuries in the operation. A teen, Maijidda (pictured here), miraculously escaped her abductors. Her grandmother whom she was travelling with was killed.

“It is evident that officials in #Zamfara are working through the #NorthEast playbook designed to restrict information on casualty figures and shut out avenues of verifying. Just yesterday, the combined team of JTF/CJTF raided a known hideout of the bandits in #Bagega forest.

“Villagers are living both in fear of ubiquitous bandits and the new pronouncement by government officials. Nevertheless, we have photos taken at the burial of 4 persons (pictured here), from Kursasa and Badarawa killed by bandits in Shinkafi LGA on Saturday January 19, 2019.

“The latest response by state officials is a pronouncement banning taking of pictures at locations of mass burials. In addition, there is a standing threat that any pictures of mass burials in the state taken or uploaded in any media platform attract grave consequences.

“The villages that were attacked last week alone include: Kalale, Kango, Tasa, Fanteka Sanawa, farar doka, Sabuwar Kasuwa, Akuso, Zanoka etc.
Apart from pockets of attacks that often go unreported; the attack by bandits in Dokar Alasan village in Dangulbe district in Maru LGA on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 took the lives of 15 villagers. Within this period over 10 clusters of villages were attacked by bandits”.

The attacks in these Local Government Areas resulted in scores of fatalities, abduction of dozens and displacements of thousands of persons in Zamfara state.