Terrorists Attack Villagers In Zamfara, Kill, Injure Those Without Money

Seven persons were killed and three others injured on Tuesday, May 24, during attacks by terrorists on Tungar-Wakaso, Dargaje, Farnanawa, Tsilligidi, Tudun-Gandu, and Nannarki villages of Gummi and Bukuyum Local Government Areas (LGA) of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.

The assailants, estimated to be about 150 in number, came around 6 p.m., local time.

A survivor, who identified himself as Alhaji Maidawa, 53, resident of Tungar-Wakaso received several gunshots at his back, knees, and shoulder during the attack.

“The terrorists met me on my farm with two of my cows. One of them is a tall and bald-headed man, fairly black in complexion, who looked at me and said where is the money? I replied in fear and despair that I had no money with me. But you can take my cows and go with them instead,” Maidawa said of his conversation with the terrorists. 

“There were four of them at the moment, and one of them said we do not need cows. You have to give us money here. I swore to them that I had not a single kobo here in the bush. I begged for their pardon.” 

But he said the terrorists shot him three times as he pleaded with them and attempted to escape.

“They shot my back. I then said let me check out from the shirt I hang on the tree. On getting to the tree, I quickly ran into the bush. They gave me another two shots, on my shoulder and leg.” 

Another survivor, 67-year-old Mamman Dargaje, said the terrorists met him on his way to the farm. 

Dargaje was shot as he struggled with one of the terrorists. 

“I faced one of them who pointed the gun he was carrying at my face. His colleagues were moving in different directions of the bush. I confronted him and overpowered him straight,” he said. 

“But one of the terrorists sighted us, and before I could escape into the bush, I received a bullet in my ribs.”

The seven people that were killed were from Farnanawa village of Bukuyum Local Government Area. 

The attacks have forced villagers, about 5,000 of them, including women, children and the aged, to vacate their villages. They were moving to Gummi and DakiTakwas metropolis for protection. 

Muhammad Shehu, Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara State, said, “the State Command has already mobilised reinforcement and deployed tactical unit to address the situation”. 

He assured residents of the area that “any perpetrator arrested would be brought to book”,  appealing to the residents to remain calm as peace would be restored.