CATTLE RUSTLERS KILL 40, INJURE MANY IN ZAMFARA

A large group of suspected well-armed cattle
rustlers Saturday night attacked Cigama and
Kokiya communities of Birnin Magaji local
government area of Zamfara State, killing over 40
residents and injuring many others. The death toll
could rise.
An eyewitness, Malam Sa’idu Bello, told
LEADERSHIP in a phone conversation that heavily
armed cattle rustlers, numbering over 50, besieged
the community at about 3pm on Saturday and
opened fire on anyone in sight.
Bello said the rustlers had on several instances
attempted to attack the village but did could not
because of the daily patrol by the vigilante group in
the area, but they were caught unawares in the
weekend attack due to Ramadan.
The rustlers attacked us at a surprise hour when
many people, including members of the vigilante
groups, were still busy praying in supplication for
blessing from the holy Ramadan month,” he said.
According to him, the village is now deserted as
both men and women had to flee for their safety
because “there is no police or any form of security
(apparatus) to guarantee security of life and
property.”
He further reported that after the bloody attack, the
rustlers stole a large number of cattle and sheep
and easily escaped.
Another eyewitness, Hassan Balarabe, noted that
the community was in serious dilemma as families
had been separated.
“As I am talking to you now, I don’t know the
whereabouts of my father, my seven-year-old child
and my brother, as everyone took to their heels,”
he said, even as he expressed fears that the
number of casualties might raise to a very
alarming figure as dead bodies were still being
recovered from surrounding bushes.
The Zamfara State police public relations officer,
DSP Sanusi Amiru, said the attack occurred in a
very remote area with very difficult terrain, and
said a joint team of policemen and military had
been deployed to track the culprits and also secure
the area.
Amiru declined to give the figure of casualties, but
said details will be released after investigation.