37 Bandits Killed As Zamfara Residents Resist Invasion

Reports indicate that at least 37 bandits were killed in Matusgi, a village located in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, following a confrontation with residents who defended their community against an invasion aimed at abduction.

A resident disclosed to journalists that the bandits arrived on motorbikes around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, intending to abduct villagers.

While this was not the first encounter between the villagers and bandits, it marked the first occasion when the residents successfully inflicted substantial casualties on the attackers, said the source who spoke to Daily Trust anonymously.

The resident recounted that the bandits initiated their assault by firing indiscriminately to instil fear within the community.

However, the villagers had been forewarned and were ready for the attack. Armed with homemade firearms, some residents engaged in combat, while others utilized traditional weapons to encircle the area and thwart the bandits’ escape.

Naija News learnt that after an hour of fierce fighting, the bandits were forced to retreat, with reports indicating that 10 of their members were killed.

The villagers then regrouped, devised a strategy, and set an ambush. Upon the bandits’ return, the residents launched a second offensive, resulting in a total of 37 bandits being killed.

The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the events to newsmen, noting that three villagers lost their lives during the confrontation.

He also mentioned that neighbouring villages observed the bandits transporting the bodies of their deceased comrades on motorbikes.

“This is the 13th time bandits have attacked this village.

“Three weeks ago, the bandits kidnapped 23 people, mostly women. They carried out the operation quietly, without firing any shots until after they had left. We only became aware of their departure when they fired a few shots in the distance,” Muhammad noted.

He further stated that the criminals had requested a ransom of ₦150,000 for each individual. Following the payment, only seven of the kidnapped women were freed, while the rest remained in captivity.

In a related development, the Kaduna State government has announced that troops conducting patrols have eliminated eight bandits in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

The troops were engaged in a combat patrol in the Kampanin Doka region when they came across the bandits.

The Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, reported that the troops confronted the bandits, resulting in the immediate death of seven.

He further noted that during a subsequent search of the vicinity, the troops recovered various items, including three AK-47 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines (four of which were empty and four loaded with a total of 120 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition), one magazine carrier, six motorcycles, three mobile phones, two Baofeng radio sets, and three sets of civilian clothing.

He also mentioned that during the concluding phase of the patrol, the troops encountered additional bandits in the Gayam area, neutralizing one more while the remaining bandits escaped with gunshot injuries.