Insurgents
have carried out a bloody raid on some communities in Zamfara State, allegedly
killing over 100 members of a vigilante group.
According to
reliable sources, the attack occurred Tuesday night when the vigilante members
from Zurmi and Birnin Magaji local governments were having a joint meeting bordering
on the lingering insurgency in the areas.
The source
said the vigilante groups had identified a major terrorists’ hideout in the
jungle, and believing that the situation could be a threat to the oncoming
general election, had decided to have a meeting to find a lasting solution
ahead of the elections.
“When the
meeting was going on,” said the source, “an informant within the meeting
alerted the insurgents who immediately surrounded the victims and opened fire,
killing over 100 of them and quickly escaped into the forest.”
The
communities worst hit include Zurmi, Birnin Magaji and Birnin Tsaba, where
similar attacks by insurgents had occurred in the past.
The Emir of
Birnin Magaji, Alhaji Ahmed Umar Usman, confirmed that while his community lost
eight youths, Zurmi lost about 70 and Birnin Tsaba 30.
Findings by
our correspondent indicate that the number of casualties may exceed the
recorded figure, as there seems to be other unreported cases in some remote
neighbouring communities.
The spokesman
of the state police command ASP Lawal Abdullahi said only 19 died in the raid.
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