Pandemonium ensued in in Damaga community, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as suspected bandit allegedly opened fire, killing many.
Students in a nearby secondary school fled due to the unfolding violence.
Residents said dozens of armed men arrived on motorcycles and opened fire immediately, killing people and rustling cattle.
“As I’m talking to you, the bodies of the victims are being recovered and we have concluded arrangements for their burials,” a resident identified as Musa Damaga told Daily Trust.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu, said: “Give me some time I will get back to you.”
In the meantime, no fewer than 100 miners operating between Anka and Maru Local Government Areas of Zamfara State have been abducted by bandits.
Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, who spoke on behalf of other members of the state Council of Chiefs as chairman, disclosed this when the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, led service chiefs on an assessment visit to the state governor on Tuesday.
The emir added that the bandits also killed 10 persons during an invasion of a mining site in the state.
Zamfara is one of the states in the north-west terrorized by bandits.
President Muhammadu Buhari had declared the state a no-fly zone and also banned mining activities.
He had also ordered the deployment of 6000 troops, according to the state governor, Bello Matawalle, in a broadcast, where is gave the bandits 2 months ultimatum to surrender.
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