Protest by angry residents and displaced persons over continued killings of people by unknown gunmen turned violent in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State yesterday.

Scores of people in farming communities in the state have killed in the last few years by faceless attackers commonly referred to as armed bandits.

About 82 people were killed in the last six weeks. Many of them were gunned down on their farms while harvesting their crops.

Yesterday’s protest in Tsafe town was meant to draw attention to the deteriorating situation but the moon soon turned ugly.

The protesters attacked the local government secretariat and burnt 15 vehicles and other properties, Daily Trust gathered.

They also burnt campaign bill boards and blocked the highway used by passengers from Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Abuja to Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Hundreds of travellers were stranded for hours many of whom were forced to abort their journey.

The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the burning of 15 vehicles by the protesters it described as miscreants in Tsafe town.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Belel made the confirmation at a press conference in Gusau on Monday.

Belel who described the incident as unfortunate, said it was perpetrated by those bent on creating unrest in the society.

•Sourced from a Daily Trust report