Terrorists Kill 6, Injure Others In Search Of Monarch In Northwestern Nigeria
The gang, numbering about a hundred, attacked the palace of Alhaji Abubakar Gado in Maru local government area of the northwestern Nigeria state on Oct. 27.
A terrorist group killed six people and left about 14 others injured in Maru town of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria. They had attacked Emir Alhaji Abubakar Gado’s (Banaga of Maru) official residence, but he had narrowly escaped. This was when they embarked on a house-to-house search.
The incident, which took place yesterday, Oct. 27, lasted for about five hours, between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
Upon their arrival, the terrorists – numbering about a hundred – shot in the air at the palace gates.
“The Emir was sitting with his guards in the palace, only for him to go to his private apartment to respond to a telephone call then the armed bandits dropped at the palace gate and started shooting in the air,” Mansur Nasamu, a relative of the Emir told HumAngle.
“The gunshots terrified all of us and we ran for our lives. They killed Mamman Dogari [royal guard] instantly. Five others were also killed in the Sabuwar-Gwammanan area.”
Another victim was the chairman of Maru’s local vigilante group, Mohammed Sani. The monarch’s royal guard, Sani Bala, one Garba and Sa’adu ABC were killed during the house-to-house attack.
Residents say 14 people sustained gunshot injuries in Ede, Sabuwar-Gwammanan, and Bakindaji areas of Maru.
Rabiu Garba, the elder brother of Mohammed Sani, told HumAngle “the terrorists met with my younger brother, Mohammed the vigilante chairman, when he came out to repel the attack. They overpowered him and killed him instantly.”
Balki Mamman, 47, wife of Malam Sa’adu said “The terrorists killed my husband when the group crashed into our apartment. They asked for his GSM which he gave them promptly, yet they shot him in his neck leaving him dead.
“One of them held me by the arm. He forcefully dragged me down to the ground and injured my hand.”
An eyewitness, Junaidu Isah, 42, pointed out that the police and military operatives exchanged gunfire with the terrorists when they [security operatives] later showed up.
“Because the armed group went to the various mosques located in the Sabuwar-Gwammanan area, using microphones in the mosques to call for prayers around 5:20 a.m. But when the security operatives arrived at that hour, the terrorists ran away,” he said.
Saminu Hasan Maru, a local trader, added that he had not opened his shop for five days in the marketplace because the terrorists came to his town every day since Monday.
The gang had vandalised official vehicles of the Maru Emirate Council before they left, HumAngle gathered.
Confirming the incident, State Commissioner Ministry of Information, Manir Haidara, said “The Zamfara State Government has as of today henceforth, declared Maru Central Market closed until the security situation in the area returns to normal.”
Police Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident and added that “there was no abduction.”
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
