Scores of armed men in Zamfara state attacked several communities, unopposed by security forces. Farmers were killed, a dozen abducted and the rest chased from their land in an assault that lasted hours.
A terrorist group in Zamfara State has scattered farming communities in a brazen attack, killing four farmers and abducting around a dozen more.
Scores of armed men were unopposed by security forces, in an assault that lasted six hours beginning in the afternoon of July 24 in Bukuyum, in Nigeria’s North West.
The terrorists arrived on more than 60 motorbikes, witnesses estimated.
The men ordered farmers to leave their fields. Fleeing victims have been arriving in the area’s larger towns.
The terrorists began their series of assaults, killing farmers working in the Mairairai farming area in Gwashi/Adabka ward, Bukuyum Local Government Area.
The armed men then moved on to attack the villages of Ruwan-Kura, Farar-Kankara, Tungar-Maigunya, Tungar-Jauro, Tungar-Maiguru, Kuryar-Mari, and Tajaye, in Zauma and Zarumai wards.
The men who were killed were named as: Dan Matabo Elbi, Sani Mairakumi, Lauwali Musa Gando, and Usman Auta Doka. There could be other casualties not yet reported.
‘Left with nothing’
Hauwa Mamman Hwatsa, a 43-year-old resident, told HumAngle her husband was among those who had been abducted.
“As you can see, I am taking my loads and children on my head going to an unknown destination,” she said. “We are left with nothing to eat and survive this inhuman maltreatment in the eyes of the government of Nigeria. Who knows if the government is informed of all the attacks we suffer here?”
Hauwa lamented that she was sitting in the family’s mud house with her husband Mamman, and her children when the terrorists entered their house last night.
“We heard noisy and sporadic gunshots knocking our ears from everywhere. The group told us that if the government does not stop killing their armed members they will not stop attacking us,” Hauwa said.
Hundreds of residents from the attacked villages fled their homes and are now displaced people in Bukuyum, DakiTakwas, and Nasarawa-Burkullu.
The armed group ordered the residents to vacate their farming lands so the cattle the terrorists had rustled could feed on their growing crops.
Kabiru Usman, 32, from Dargaje, said “It was raining heavily when the armed terrorists intruded into our community. They were shouting in chorus, reiterating a stern warning that we must leave our farms for them.”
Garbe Dantani, 58, a farmer from Tungar-Maiguru said “We know the Fulanis who have been attacking, abducting us and killing our loved ones. We also know their camp locations in Bukuyum LGA.”
“What government needs to do to protect us is just to establish more military checkpoints at various routes of the terrorists located at Fakon Shanu, Psychiatric hospital junction in Anka, Dankamfani, Tashar-Lauwali, and Gadar-Manya locations all in Anka LGA.” Hamisu Faru, a resident from Nasarawa-Burkullu said.