Crisis

A group of suspected cattle rustlers have
reportedly killed at least 42 people in Gidan Kaso
town of Birnin Magaji Local Government area of
Zamfara state.
According to Vanguard report, properties which
worth millions of naira were also
destroyed when the culprits launched an attack
on the affected village.
The attackers were also said to have told the
villagers to either surrender their animals to
them or be killed.
It was gathered that while some of the residents
complied with the directive, those who refused
to obey were instantly fired, as a result of which
many of them died.
Reports also informed that scores of people in
the affected village also sustained various
degree of injure as they attempted to escape.
The attack occurred following the killing of one
of the colleagues of the hoodlums which they
vowed to revenge upon, an eye witness told
newsmen.
“For the past 20 days now, these people have
been threatening the residents of this town that
they will attack it, and since then, the people
have not been themselves following the fear put
in their minds by the threat,” the witness added.
“Immediately the hoodlums got into the town,
they opened five indiscriminately on whoever
they came across, irrespective of sex, as one
woman was among the already killed people,”
Sahabi Mai Taya, a resident of the town who
narrowly escaped death stated.
Sahabi said he lost one of his relatives in the
attack and all his farm products were destroyed
by the criminals, who up to the time of filling in
this report were still at large.
It was gathered that some of the attackers were
carrying different dangerous weapons, including
AK47 riffles, axe, dungeons’ sharp knives and
cutlass.
When journalists visited the affected village, the
whole area was deserted while it was gathered
that those who survived the attack had moved
out along with the remaining animals they were
left with.
While confirming the tragic attack, the chairman
of the council, Alhaji aminu Sani, jaja informed
that only 15 people were killed and three houses
burnt to ashes including that of the chairman
vigilante group of the area.
Jaja stated that those killed have since been
buried, while those with injuries were receiving
medical treatment at various health institutions
around the local government.
He called on the entire residents in the ares to
always report any suspicious character to the
nearest authorities, and also continue to pray for
peace in not only the town, or local government,
but also to the state and the nation in general.
However, the spokesperson of the state police
command, Dsp Lawal Abdullahi, could not be
reached as all his phone lines were switched off.