In a daring raid, armed bandits stormed Zurmi town, the headquarters of Zurmi Local Government in Zamfara State, targeting the Emir’s palace in an attempt to abduct Emir Alhaji Muhammed Bunu.
The brazen attack resulted in a violent confrontation, leaving a trail of destruction and terror in its wake.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing events as the bandits, armed and determined, descended upon the palace, firing indiscriminately.
“The bandits went straight to the palace and started shooting sporadically,” shared Malam Aminu Sale, a resident of Zurmi.
However, swift action by security agents prevented the abduction of the Emir, who was safely evacuated to Gusau. Despite this, the bandits wreaked havoc, destroying a transformer and a telecoms mast network booster in their ruthless pursuit.
Tragically, the violence claimed the lives of three individuals who were kidnapped during the chaos. The bandits, undeterred by the resistance, unleashed terror upon the town, leaving residents traumatized and fearful for their lives.
The attack extended beyond Zurmi, with Maru town, the headquarters of Maru Local Government Council, also falling victim to banditry.
A resident of Maru recounted the ordeal, describing how the bandits mercilessly targeted civilians, killing one person and abducting three others during their rampage.
As the bandits roamed freely for over two hours, residents, mainly women and children, fled their homes in search of safety, leaving behind a town gripped by fear and uncertainty.
The attacks in Zurmi and Maru are the latest in a string of violent incidents orchestrated by armed bandits in Zamfara State.
Despite repeated assaults, the authorities have struggled to contain the escalating crisis, with communities left vulnerable to the brutality of the attackers.
Efforts to obtain official comment from the state police command proved futile, as repeated attempts to reach the spokesperson, Asp Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful.
As the residents of Zurmi and Maru grapple with the aftermath of yet another assault, questions linger about the effectiveness of security measures and the urgent need for intervention to restore peace and security in the region.