Six motorists shot dead at Zamfara roadblock

Gunmen in Zamfara blocked Moriki-Kaura-Namoda Road, a major highway, for five days, killing six motorists, it was said yesterday.Sources said the gunmen, who blocked the road to protest the closure of the cattle market in Shinkafi council, also abducted many passengers and set several vehicles on fire.Although the police authorities in Zamfara confirmed the incidents, they said the Shinkafi–Moriki-Kaura-Namoda Road has been cleared and declared safe for use.

The incident happened recently.

Locals said bandits also attacked Birnin Yero community in Shinkafi on Tuesday and Wednesday, shooting at farmers and abducting a nursing mother, Aisha Bature, and her one-year-old daughter. A local vigilante was shot dead by the bandits.Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, said the command had deployed a tactical team to the road.

“The situation along Kaura-Namoda-Shinkafi Road is under control because a few days ago, we had challenges where these bandits took advantage of some locations to attack commuters. Now, we have put our heads together with other security chiefs and deployed enough security operatives along the road.“Now the road is free for movement. Shinkafi Road is not under siege,” Elkanah said.