Bandits have stormed five communities and killed 42 residents in Faru District of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
THE WHISPERER gathered that the gunmen who came into the affected communities on hundreds of motorcycles laid siege to the areas for about five hours, from 12noon to about 5PM on Thursday.
During the operations, according to sources, the bandits shot indiscriminately at the residents, leading to the death of about 42 people while many others sustained gunshot wounds.
Speaking to Daily Nigerian, the JIBWIS New Media Director, Abdullahi Salisu, who is an indigene of the area, said the gunmen attacked Tsauni, Gudan-Baushi, Gidan-Adamu, Wari and Gudan-Maidawa communities and burnt their houses and food stores.
He said: “The bandits came on over 100 motorcycles and began operation from 12Pm to about 5PM.
“After some distress calls, some soldiers stationed in Faru District confronted them but they were overpowered because they were not as many as the bandits.
“I heard that some of the soldiers were also wounded during the shootout.”
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, confirmed the attack, saying however that only 35 people were killed during the operation.
“The police personnel tried their best to reach the affected communities on receiving the information that the bandits were there but unfortunately they could not reach the places because of the bad roads,” he added.