Armed bandits have unleashed another terror attack, believed to have been a revenge attack on Yankuzo community, including the palace of District Head, Babangida Hamza, looting properties hours after a military offensive on their hideouts.

The bandits were said to have been led by one Mai Rasha, who stormed the Tsafe-area community early Tuesday, shooting sporadically before setting the traditional ruler’s residence ablaze.

The armed bandits came, shooting and came straight to my palace and burnt the palace,” Hamza added.

He said that he was away in Tsafe town when the attack occurred, adding that his family members had been safely evacuated, noting that casualty figures remained unclear.

The residents said that the gunmen remained in the community for hours, until about 3:30 p.m., carting away foodstuffs and valuables from several shops in a coordinated looting spree.

According to them, the attack was a direct reprisal following a military operation targeting terrorist enclaves near the Zamfara State community earlier in the day.

They explained that the bandits have always seen them as a target, noting that they had previously relocated due to threats and had abducted villagers about six months ago over alleged links to security agencies.

“The latest attack came amid rising attacks on traditional rulers across the North-West, with another district head reportedly abducted days earlier in Kaura Namoda.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command on the incident were unsuccessful as of press time.