Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Zamfara State Police Command has denied an online report which said that several persons were killed in the state at different locations by bandits.
According to spokesman of the Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, attention of the Command has been drawn to the above captioned headline published by one of the online Media of Thursday 4th June, 2020.
Shehu said the report which indicates that, gunmen attacked over ten (10) villages in Talata Mafara LGA and killed over sixty (60) people, and on the other hand attacked four (4) villages and killed another sixty (60) people in Maru LGA was not only inaccurate but misleading and unfounded.
According to Shehu, “On 2nd and 3rd June, 2020, six (6) villages namely :- Tungar Malan, Manyan Karaje, Tungar Arne, Dangodon Maiyakane, Dangodon Mai Masallaci and Boleke in Maru LGA were attacked by suspected armed bandits with intend to rustle cows. When confronted by members of the milia group known as “YAN SAKAI”, they started shooting sporadically, thereby resulting to the death of fifteen (15) people, while seven (7) people sustained gun shot wound and rushed to the hospital for treatment.”
In further clarification, Shehu stated that in related incident, On 3rd June, 2020, Bandits attacked and killed six (6) people from four (4) villages namely:- Gidan Dan Kani, Tungar lauti, Inwala and Dangodo villages in Talata Mafara LGA. The victims were attacked and killed while coming back from funeral prayer of the above deceases. Five (5) people sustained gun shot wound and are currently receiving treatment.
“In view of the above, the Zamfara State Police Command hereby refutes such unfounded report and urges the press to patiently wait to have the accurate report of events before publication so as not to put members of the public in confusion and fear.
“At the moment, normalcy has been restored in the affected communities, and the command will keep members of the public abreast as soon as new development emerges.” Shehu said.