Terrorists kill 16 people in separate attacks in Zamfara

Terrorists in Birnin Magaji area Zamfara State They have vowed to continue attacking local communities in the area until a unit of soldiers stationed in the area is withdrawn, residents told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday morning.

PREMIUM TIMES spoke to four residents of Birnin Magaji, Mazauda, ​​Nasarawa Mai layi and Gidan Kane communities about the recent attacks that killed 16 people. Several others were injured in the attacks.

Residents, who asked not to be named for security reasons, also said the terrorists have banned all agricultural activities in this rainy area until the soldiers withdraw.

A resident of Gidan Kane said terrorists attacked three communities on Sunday night.

“Two people were killed in Tunkuda, two in Mashayawo and four in Mazaud. They went from town to town terrorizing the people. On Monday, Maituri was attacked and three people were killed. All these communities are under Gusami Hayi constituency,” he said.

On the same Sunday, he said, terrorists attacked Tungar Danjuma and Kiri Fada and killed four people, “it was all the more daring because the attacks on these two towns were carried out in broad daylight as the Muslim faithful were finishing their evening prayer.”

“Labour have been increasing their attacks on the communities around us recently. They have attacked communities like Mazauda, ​​Tunkuda, Tungar Danjuma, Mashayawo, Nasarawa Mai layi and Kiri-Fada in the last two days,” a youth leader in Birnin Magaji told PREMIUM TIMES on phone.

A resident of Mazauda said that the terrorists have told the residents that the attacks will not stop until a military unit in the area is withdrawn.

“Yes, they said they are attacking us because we are helping the people of the government to send soldiers and security personnel to our areas. In one of the meetings our elders had with some Fulani bandits, they said that since we are inviting soldiers, they will continue to attack,” he said.

The residents of Gidan Kane told the attackers the same thing. They have promised to stop the attacks when the soldiers withdraw.

“Since the soldiers are always on the alert, especially during the day, they are forced to reduce the number of attacks carried out by bandits. Also, when they attack, the soldiers sometimes follow them and kill some of them. Therefore, since we informed the soldiers and vigilante group members about their movement, they thought that they will continue to attack us”, he said.

When asked how the terrorists carried out the series of attacks on Sunday and Monday, unchallenged by the soldiers, he said that the security agents did not report it.

“The soldiers were in the village of Kara Zube, but they go on patrol. Sometimes when we do call them, it takes time for them to arrive, especially if they are in a remote community. But they are really trying,” he said.

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In Nasarawa Mai layin, terrorists killed one person and injured several others on Monday.

“Unfortunately, while the wounded were being taken to the hospital in Gusau, another group of terrorists ambushed them. They escaped unhurt although they lost all their money. They are in Gusau hospital and are being cared for,” a resident of Nasarawa Mai layi told PREMIUM TIMES on phone.

The state police spokesman, Mohammed Shehu, did not respond to calls and text messages sent by this reporter regarding the attacks.

Zamfara state, in northwestern Nigeria, has been witness to terrorist activities for more than a decade.