Gunmen have killed 160 people and abducted 10 married women in different villages of Zamfara State in the last three months, according to Governor Abdulazez Yari.

He made the disclosure yesterday in the state capital Gusau while addressing members of the House of Assembly on security situation in the state. A National Mirror report on the meeting quoted Alhaji Yari as lamenting that the situation has caused disaffection between residents of the affected villages and the state government.

“The governor said the hoodlums, who continued to terrorise villages in parts of the state, stole no fewer than 6,000 cows and 4,000 sheep within the period,” the paper reported. “Yari said the state government was handicapped and urged the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to the state to protect lives and property of the people,” the report added.

The governor was also quoted as saying that the state government had committed a lot of its scarce resources on security issues and called on the Federal Government to stand up to its responsibilities.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Sanusi Rikijin, assured the governor of the Assembly’s support. “We will consult with other state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly to ensure justice, equity and fair play in the country,” Rikijin said.

•Photo shows Governor Yari.