Bandits have killed 10 people and kidnapped many in five villages in the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
An indigene of the area, Musa Sani, said the bandits who were on motorcycles invaded Dandamji, Gidan Runji, Doka, Yanmadanga and Yarkatsina villages on Monday evening.
Sani said that the bandits also carted away large number of domestic animals.
He stated that the bandits operated for several hours due to absence of security agents.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, confirmed the killing of the 10 people, adding that, 10 bandits were also killed in the encounter.
Shehu said, “At about 11pm in the night on Monday, the police tactical operatives deployed to Mada axis in a joint operations with the vigilante group of Hayin Daudu village and environ in Mada District of Gusau LGA, responded to a distress call received from the village that, armed bandits in their large number stormed the area with intent to attack the innocent people of the village.
“The bandits who were armed with sophisticated weapons heavily engaged to a gun duel by the joint police/vigilante operatives, as a result of the encounter, ten bandits were neutralised while others escaped with a possible gun shot wounds.
“Normalcy was restored in the area with rigorous confidence building patrol being intensfied to forestall further attack on the communities.
“The Commissioner of Police commended the collaborative efforts of the Vigilante and other partners in crime fighting for their resilience and urged them to sustain the tempo.”
