Some unidentified gunmen armed with dangerous weapons invaded Maitsaba village in Zurmi Local government area of Zamfara State at around twelve o’clock in the afternoon killed fourteen people and wounded several others.
The suspected killers were alleged to have came through Batsari Katsina state border town with Zamfara forest and invaded the entire town and while the people of the neighboring Birnin Tsaba community heard their presence after several minutes of sporadic gunshots they mobilized for re-enforcement.
But in the course of the intervention, they lost eight people to suspected hoodlum raising the casualty figures to twenty two.
Some households especially women have fled the affected communities even before the conclusion of the funeral prayers of the deceased while tension gripped some that decided to stay especially for the fear of another invasion.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Commerce Alh Hassan Mohd Zurmi alongside Zurmi Local government Council Chairman arrived the scene of the incident in company of other state government officials to see things for themselves and report to the state government for necessary action.
Briefing this reporter on telephone Hassan Mohd Zurmi confirmed the casualty figures and described the attack as unfortunate adding that, though funeral processes are on, the affected areas are calm as police and other security operatives have intensified surveillance.
He assured the people of Zurmi Emirate of the state government readiness to respond appropriately to the security challenges as measures are being put in place to ensure that the deadly killings in Zurmi and other part of Zamfara has been stopped.
He condoled with the people of Zurmi for the unwanted incident and assured the families of those killed the state government willingness to support them in all perspectives.
As at the time of filling this story, the state command Public Relations Officer DSP Lawal Abdullahi is at the scene of the incident and is expected to brief reporters on the development with regard to the security situation in the affected areas.
