Terrorists over the weekend, killed and kidnapped scores of people in Sokoto and Zamfara communities. According to reports over sixty persons lost their lives to the senseless attacks by marauding bandits. In Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara state, dozens of people were killed while about 30 girls were kidnapped. While in Raka, Raka Dutse and Filingawa communities in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto, more than thirty persons were feared dead. The immediate past chairman of Tangaza local government, Bashir Kalenjeni, who confirmed the incident said many villagers sustained gunshot injuries, while several others were still missing. We wanted to bury them in the night, but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As at this (Sunday) morning, the deceased are still there unburied,” Kalenjeni said.
He said before the attack, the villagers had refused to pay the levies imposed on their communities by the bandits.
“The bandits imposed levies on their communities which was meant to take charge with immediate effect, and also dictating to residents on what to and not to do.He stated.
“But the villagers refused to succumb and because of that, they attacked them, killing 37 persons; while several others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Gwadabawa.
“There are others who are still unaccounted for.
“Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones.”
A local source informed journalists that they kidnapped over 30 girls, adding that they sent a message that this year if the community wants to cultivate in their farms in Daggera, Bakura LGA, they must have a truce. “We’ve been doing that with them, we can’t even count the number of times we entered into such agreement. We don’t know what to do,” the source said.
