Zamfara Governor Tells Locals To Fight Back After Terrorists Kill Village Head, 3 Others

A notorious terror leader known as Katare, led an attack on ‘Yargeda community in Bakura Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria, killing a village head and three others on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. This prompted Governor Matawalle to encourage residents to defend themselves. 

Several people were kidnapped in the incident that took place from 12:30 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. (WAT) in ‘Yargeda village, a kilometre away from Nigeria’s military base located at the outskirts of Colony Area in Talata-Mafara part of the state. 

But when HumAngle visited the military base in Mafara, the Commandant was said not to be available in his office.

Bello Abubakar ‘Yargeda, Senior Special Advisor (SSA) to the Zamfara State Government, told HumAngle that, “the terrorists led by Katare, the notorious leader, invaded our ‘Yargeda village with his over 100 members, shooting sporadically. They blocked every exit and stopped all of us from running away.

“The terrorists gatecrashed into the official residence of the Village Head, Alhaji Audu Ummaru ‘Yargeda and shot him dead in his room, along with three others during the attack.”

He further added that the local government sole administrator, Aminu Sulaiman, gave him an emergency call during the attack to enquire about what was happening in ‘Yargeda. 

“I briefed him on the situation. He immediately called the soldiers lodged at the colony military base in Talata-Mafara. Unfortunately none of the military officers could pick up the calls after several trials,” Abubakar said.  

“In fact, we witnessed and experienced three different blows of attacks here in ‘Yargeda without a single military or police response despite our proximity to them.”

Abubakar later briefed Sen. Hasan Nasiha, the deputy governor of Zamfara State, who was on an emergency visit to the village to commiserate with the families of victims.

“Katare is the strongest notorious terrorist group leader operating and terrorizing the entire villages in Bakura and Talata-Mafara local government areas in the state,” he pointed out.

“He lives with his members located at Katsalle village, which is not up to 10 kilometers away from Colony Military base.”

Meanwhile, Jamilu Bawa, a resident of Sauna village told HumAngle that earlier on Monday, March 28, Katare’s gang attacked residents of Ruwan Hora, Ruwan Gizo, Boraye, and Dajin Banza villages of Talata-Mafara.

Bawa added that “the attackers killed Salisu Musa Ruwan Gizo, an ex-Vice Chairman of Talata-Mafara local government council. The gang also abducted scores of residents during the attack.”

Matawalle, represented by his deputy, declared that henceforth residents who perceive impending terror attacks  are at liberty to defend themselves. 

When contacted for comment, S.P. Muhammad Shehu, PPRO Zamfara State Police Command said “we have no further to say. But you need to contact the Military base in Talata-Mafara who were first contacted by the residents over the matter.”