It was a gory sight yesterday in Zamfara, North-East Nigeria, after gunmen raided Kizara village in Tsafe Local Government Area, killing the district head, the chief imam, the local vigilante leader, and at least 45 others.

The attack started at about 4am and lasted for more than five hours, according to a report in the Abuja newspaper, Daily Trust.

“Witnesses said dozens of unidentified gunmen arrived on motorbikes, and laid siege on the village, firing at residents,” the paper said, adding the following details about the incident:

“Some of the gunmen climbed a hill behind the village and shot at people trying to escape the attack as well as those trying to come in to help from neighbouring villages.

“The gunmen also went house-to-house, shooting men dead. They told residents that they were looking for vigilante members who they said were threatening them for a long time.

“During the attack, chief imam of the village, his deputy and three of his disciples were killed. Also shot dead were 11 people who came in from neighbouring villages to offer help.

“The gunmen also set fire to many houses and shops before they fled the village around 9 am.

Residents said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Keta division engaged the attackers in a shootout for hours but he was overwhelmed and had to retreat.

“Alhaji Ali Hakimi, who survived the attack, gave an account of the incident to our reporter: ‘I woke up in the morning to get my children set for work on my farm. I suddenly started to hear gun shots. I listened attentively and I realized that sounds of the gun shots were coming directly behind me.

“ ‘I then sensed trouble and quickly run into my house. I saw one of my children standing at the compound and I told him to hide himself in a room close to mine but before he did that they came and shot him dead.’

Another resident, Idi Namarake, was quoted as saying that when he heard the gunshots, his wife advised him to hide under the bed, and soon after the gunmen forced their way into the room. They asked the wife where her husband was and she told them he had travelled. ‘That was how I escaped being killed,’ he said.

Daily Trust said the attack took place just two days after the security agents stationed at the village were withdrawn.

State police commissioner Mr. Akila Usman Gwary confirmed the attack, saying the police would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According to Daily Trust, “This was the deadliest in the series of bandit attacks on villages in Zamfara State over the past two years.

“In November last year, 20 people were shot dead in a similar attack in Kabaro town. A month earlier, 27 were killed in Dangulbi, while in Birnin Magaji 15 were killed in February 2012. These were preceded by the August 2011 attack in which 19 died at Lingyado town.

“In most of the attacks, it was believed that the gunmen were trying to exact revenge from vigilantes who had previously arrested armed robbers terrorizing local traders.

“Similar attacks have also happened in neighboring Kaduna and Katsina states. Just days ago, bandits attacked Kwasa-Kwasa in Kaduna State, killing two military personnel and four other people. In previous incidents in Kaduna State, 20 people were killed in Dogon Dawa in October 2012; 3 cops died in Birnin Gwari in the same month; and seven people were killed in Goron Dutse earlier this month.”

•Photo shows Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari.

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