Fresh attacks in Zamfara, Plateau claim 18 lives

Eighten persons have lost their lives in fresh attacks on Zamfara and Plateau communities nearly seven days after 26 people were killed in Zamfara State.

The Public Relations Officers of Zamfara and Plateau State Police Commands, DSP Muhammad Shehu and ASP Terna Tyopev, yesterday, said bandits killed the people in Zakuna and Kura villages of the states.

Muhammad Shehu said repeated attacks in recent times have left scores dead in Zamfara. He said the unending attacks have been blamed largely on Boko Haram.

He said the attackers invaded Zakuna in the early hour of June 1 and rustled cows belonging to the villagers. He said a vigilance group known as Yansakai took on the rustlers, forcing them to flee. The bandits, however, reinforced and attacked the village.

He said: “On receiving the reports of the attack, the police mobilised to the village and discovered 15 dead bodies, majority of whom were Yansakai.

The police have, however, deployed heavy security to the area to maintain peace and stability. Bush combing and rigorous patrol is being carried out throughout the area by the police to avoid further loss of lives.”

He stressed that the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson, has ordered discreet investigation on the latest incident to catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

On the Plateau killing, Tyopev said: “We received information this morning at about 7:00 a.m. that residents of Kura Falls were attacked at about 9:30 p.m. and the early hours of Saturday by unknown gunmen.