Terrorists Kill Leader Of Local Vigilante Group, 4 Others In Zamfara

Terrorists on Monday, May 30, killed five members of a local vigilante group, including a group leader, during a broad daylight attack on Dajin Danau, Faru, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.  

In the attack that came after several verbal and written warnings by the terrorists to the Faru community to either pay their levies or face attack, the assailants killed Bala Dan-Maiyawo Faru, a famous hunter and Chairman of the local vigilante group in the local government area and his guards, while they were on the farm.  

Multiple sources told HumAngle that the terrorists launched the attack at about 12:40 p.m. (WAT).

“We had to run for our lives as sporadic gun shootings rained on our farms, though targeting only members of the vigilante group of the Faru area,” one of the sources who did not want to be named said.      

Sani Lauwali Faru, 28, who hid in the bush during the attack, said the terrorists targeted the vigilante leader because he had always been a stumbling block to them. 

“Chairman Dan-Maiyawo has been the nightmare for these terrorists because they knew they could not invade our main town in his presence. But today they killed him,” another eyewitness, Musa Muazu, told HumAngle.

However, the killing of Dan-Maiyawo reportedly triggered a mob action by angry youths of the Faru community who set ablaze three houses belonging to the  Sole Administrator of Maradun Local Government Council, Alhaji Umar Muazu Faru, including his residence in the area.

A source who pleaded for anonymity said, “all of us suspect a growing close relationship between the Local Government chairman and terror groups.”

Between May 7 and 14, terror groups had launched over 11 attacks within and around the Faru community, which prompted an official visit to the affected villages by state officials led by  Hassan Nasiha, the Zamfara State Deputy Governor.

When contacted, Umar Muazu Faru, the Sole Administrator of Maradun Local Government Council, confirmed the incident but declined to comment. 

Muhammad Shehu, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, said in response to HumAngle’s inquiries that “we have already calmed down the situation and remain committed to the protection of lives and properties in the area.”