In a renewed wave of attacks, terrorists have carried out a brutal assault on villages in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of about 18 individuals.
The attack occurred on Sunday night in the Dankurmi villages of Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara state, leaving about 30 people injured.
Hon. Iliyasu Dahiru Daraga, a local official in the affected area, provided details of the incident, stating that the victims were innocent villagers in their own communities, including Mastematsi, Katoge, Tabanni, and Matankari.
The bandits suddenly appeared and mercilessly killed 10 people in one location, while proceeding to Dankurmi where they killed another 8 individuals.
The bodies of the 8 victims were buried in Dankurmi, while the bodies of the 10 victims in the other villages remained at the sites of the attacks.
Daraga reported that 9 of the injured individuals were receiving treatment in a private hospital, while 10 others were admitted to a public hospital.
An additional 10 individuals with critical injuries were transferred to a General hospital in neighboring Kebbi State.
The bandits operated freely in the area from around 10am until approximately 3pm, before security operatives arrived at 4pm, after the assailants had already left.
The local official alleged that the attack was a reprisal, claiming that one of the villagers associated with the terrorists had been killed by members of the local vigilante group.
As a result of the attacks, all the women from the affected villages have sought refuge in Dankurmi as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Katoge village has reportedly suffered significant damage, with approximately one-third of the village razed by the terrorists.
Daraga called on the authorities to provide assistance to the affected communities.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the authorities regarding the attacks, leaving the affected communities in a state of distress and uncertainty.