Terrorists Kill Vigilante Chairman, 12 Others In 3-Day Siege In Kebbi

Terrorists from Kairu-Gando forests of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria killed a vigilante chairman and 12 others in an attack on Birnin Kebbi between Monday, March 21 to Wednesday 23, 2022.

The gang crossed a river boundary and launched attacks in areas that link villages of Bukuyum Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara to the neighbouring communities of Kebbi State.

The attackers, allegedly loyal members of Shadari’s gang operating around the Gando forest camp, hit Tadurga, Tungar Danyaki, Kebu, Tungar Samari, and Tungar-Mele communities around 4:30 p.m. WAT where they killed Shehu Gado, a vigilante chairman and 12 residents in Tungar-Danyaki, Kebu ward, Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State. 

Eyewitnesses said that the group set fire to many houses, shops, and canteens in Tungar-Gongo village. 

Abubakar Danga, 57, a resident of Tungar-Gongo, told HumAngle: “let me tell you without any fear that I ran and spent three nights in the bush with my children. I just returned today Wednesday, to attend the burial of 13 persons that the terrorist group killed.

“At the very time we were burying the 13 persons killed, the terrorists returned to our village again and set the entire place ablaze. We ran into the bush again.”

Targeted killings

The local residents described the latest terror attacks on commuters and communities of Danko/Wasagu and Ribah LGA of Kebbi State as “a tribal attack on C’Lela [Dakarkari] people of Zuru Emirate by the terrorist gang who are mostly the Fulani clan,” Mamman Dangida said.

Dangida added that “in our own case, this terrorism in our areas has become tribal killings against the Dakarkari people by the terrorist people among the Fulani tribe. This is not going to be easy for authorities to get rid of.”

Another resident of Tungar-Gongo who is a tree cutter, said “I climbed up a tree to hide when a batch of terror gang passed by chanting ‘no Badakare shall be spared because they are all ‘YansaKai“.”

Calls for help

Timothy Samuel, 43, from Tungar-Gongo recalled how the people placed several calls to authorities in vain.

“For the three consecutive days, from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we placed several calls on our local government Chairman, Divisional Police Officer of Danko/Wasagu local government area and, of course, some officers of the Nigeria Army informing them of our urgent need for emergency help against terrorists. None of them showed up throughout the three days of attacks on our people,” he said.

Abubakar Bangu, 57, added that “our Kebu District Head tried all options to see that security personnel come to our rescue but all in vain.”

All efforts to reach DSP Nafiu Abubakar, Kebbi State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) proved abortive as he did not respond to calls or text messages.

However, when contacted for his comment, Hon. Husaini Aliyu Bena, Chairman Danko/Wasagu local government council, confirmed the incident. 

“It’s shocking to understand that all efforts to repel the impending attack from our security agencies proved abortive as the information was officially received late from the residents due to network transmission failure from the affected villages,” he said, 

Bena added that security personnel are mobilised in the areas to prevent terrorists from attacking the people.

More villages at risk 

Danga, yet another local, recounted how he narrowly escaped death from different terrorist gangs while he was on the run.

“They were in several batches, almost seven batches of them attempted to kill me, but God spared my life to this moment,” he said.

HumAngle gathered that villages vulnerable to attacks currently in Zuru Emirate include Mashigi, Kibari, Tungar-Bawa, Kanwa, Lando, ‘Yar-Danko, Goblo and Gurgu as they share close borders with those under siege. 

Also, those most vulnerable are communities without a police outpost such as Yarkenna and Yar-Goba, among others.