Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed four people – three men and a woman – in Gwargwabe community, Nahuce district of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The victims were burnt to death in their homes on Thursday evening, when the bandits invaded the village and began shooting sporadically as villagers ran helter-skelter to save their lives.

According to the district Head, Alhaji Sulieman Marafa, the gunmen stormed the community because the villagers refused to pay the illegal taxes imposed on them by the bandits.

“The villagers, therefore, organised local security outfits to protect the community from attack, but the terrorists overpowered them because of the superiority of their weapons,” he added.

The district head confirmed that the attack came two days after the bandits attacked the same village, saying that seven community members were killed within two days, including a woman.

Governor Dauda Lawal, represented by his Deputy, Mani Malam Mummuni, attended the funeral prayers and burial of the victims.

The deputy governor urged residents to accept the incident as an act of destiny, while assuring them that the government is investigating the delay in the arrival of security operatives after the attack was reported.

He also announced the establishment of a military base in Gwargwabe to curb further attacks and called on the community to support security agencies with cooperation and unity.

He prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased, asked for patience and strength for their families, and announced relief support of 100 bags of grains and ten million Naira to ease the suffering of the affected people.

The deputy governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bilyamin Ismail Moriki, the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government, Alh Nura NU, and other government officials. (Adapted from a report by The Guardian)