It was a weekend of bloodbath across Plateau, Niger, and Zamfara States. The stats are gory: 20 hacked to death in five communities in Zamfara by bandits: three in Gauraka town in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, with 15 persons abducted; while 16 were killed by herdsmen in the communities of Riyom, and Dong Kasa in Jos North Local Government Area.
Angry residents of Gauraka have closed the road, protesting the killings and abductions which they said has climbed to 30 since January.
A notice on social media has advised travellers against using the Kaduna – Abuja road. It reads: “KADUNA STATE 1030hrs:
Kaduna-Abuja road blocked. Massive protest, vehicles on stand still. It was reportedly said that unknown gunmen kidnapped 16 villagers in Gauraka area before Zuba. And last week Friday too there was similar incidents. Police were said to have arrived the scene. Some vehicles are returning back to Kaduna.”
In Plateau, the government, through its Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, lamented the killings.
In a statement, Manjang said the Plateau State Government is deeply saddened by the reoccurrence of violence in parts of Dong Kasa in Jos North Local Government Area and Kwi in Riyom on Sunday night where innocent citizens including children and women were murdered in cold blood.
He described the act as barbaric, callous and a desparate attempt to rupture the peace and security of the State.
While commiserating with families that lost loved ones and valuables in the two separate attacks, Manjang said the Governor Simon Lalong is deeply distressed by the incident and has vowed to ensure that the cherished values of peace and security and the sanctity of lives remains sacrosanct in the State.
Manjang therefore said the Administration would continue to take measures and work hand in hand with security agencies for the protection of lives and property of citizens.
He said said as soon as the Government was alerted about the attack, it quickly reached out to security agencies who responded immediately and have been in pursuit of the attackers with a view to apprehending them and bringing them to justice.
The Commissioner reiterated that the capacity of the security agencies for rapid response and intervention will be boosted once the approved 50 patrol vehicles and 200 security motorcycles are supplied.
Manjang assures the citizens that the Rescue Administration through the Plateau Peace Building Agency, State Inter Religious Council and other non State actors will continue to strengthen the peace and cohesion of people of the state while criminals are fished out and dealt with according to the law.
He also encourages citizens to continue to provide useful information that will lead to the prevention of crime and arrest of criminals, assuring the Government is resolved not allow anyone or group to return the state to the dark days of sorrow, tears and blood.
According to Channels Television, no fewer than 20 people have been killed and many others injured when bandits attacked five communities in two local government areas of Zamfara State.
Residents of the affected communities confirmed the attacks and the casualties to Channels Television in an interview on Sunday.
They noted that the bandits, in large numbers, invaded the communities on Saturday afternoon and started shooting sporadically, killing innocent residents in the process.
The affected communities – Gabaken, Rigiya, Donroyi, Torawa, and Riwoji are located in Zurmi and Kaura Namoda local government areas of the state.
“They (the bandits) attacked a village called Gabaken and killed five people; in Torawa, they killed five people. One person was killed in a village called Rigiya; a village called Donroyi in Zurmi Local Government, they killed four people.
“In a village called Riwoji where I come from, they killed four and injured seven people, including my father’s younger brother,” said one of the witnesses, Umar Abubakar.
He added that the injured persons were taken to the general hospitals in Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji, and Gusau where two of them were later confirmed dead.
‘I Pretended As If I Was Dead’
Another eyewitness, Alhaji Torawa, told Channels Television that the bandits stormed Torawa community at a time when residents were observing the afternoon prayer.
He noted that the armed men surrounded the area and began to shoot sporadically, lamenting that he lost two of his family members to the attack.
Speaking in his local dialect, Torawa narrated, “They told us bandits have rounded our village. The bandits came into the villages on motorcycles and fired gunshots sporadically, killing many villagers.
“They were many that invaded the villages and two of my family members were among those killed by the bandits.”
“We were inside hiding because the bandits were many … the bandits shot at me and I pretended as if I was dead, that was why they left me,” another victim, Ibrahim Riwoji, recounted his experience.
He added, “I can remember I saw only two other victims by my side.”
Although police authorities in the state have confirmed the attacks, they did not give the number of those killed and injured by the gunmen.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, noted that police tactical teams have been deployed in the affected areas to restore normalcy in the communities.
He also appealed to the residents to be calm and go about their normal activities, saying the police were on top of the situation.
▪︎Additional reports by Channels Television