The infamous gang leader of an outlawed group, “Yansakai,” has been arrested in Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, on charges of culpable homicide and encouragement of public disorder.
SP Muhammed Shehu, the state’s police spokesman, said the incident occurred in Tungar Dutsi village in Zamfara’s Bukkuyyum Local Government Area.
He said, “On May 3, police in Bukkuyum Division responded to a distress call from Tungar Dutsi Community in Gana district of Bukkuyum Local Government Area. Some members of the outlawed group from Tungar Bido village led by their notorious leader, Bala Minister, invaded Tungar Dutsi village armed with locally-made guns and other dangerous weapons.
“They claimed they were celebrating Sallah and started shooting sporadically, causing panic and fear within the community. When some members of the community cautioned them against the sporadic shooting, the outlawed group members escalated their nefarious action to attacking people with cutlasses, knives and other dangerous weapons.
“As a result, one Surajo Alhaji Ali, 40, was gruesomely killed by the outlawed group. The leader of the group was arrested by the police, while others fled and escaped to unknown destinations.
“In the course of interrogation, the suspect confessed to the offence and mentioned the names of his collaborators still at large.”
Shehu added that members of the gang still on the run would be apprehended to face the law.
No fewer than 50 persons were killed on Friday afternoon when bandits attacked three villages in the Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A former councillor told newsmen that the gunmen attacked Sabon Garin Damri, Damri and Kalahe villages, around 2:30pm on Friday. While Damri said the bandits killed 48, people, multiple sources confirmed that the casualty was 56.
Two days after the attack in BakuraLGA of Zamfara, Bandits killed seven persons in Maradun LGA of Zamfara.
The assailants who were heavily armed, an eyewitness said, stormed the community some minutes before 2pm and began to fire sporadic gunshots.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent attacks by bandits on communities in Zamfara State.
He extended his sympathies to the victims’ families, as well as the state’s administration and people, and said that the federal and state governments must work together to put an end to the awful killings as soon as possible.
President Buhari, on the other hand, praised the military for their relentless assault and for not relenting as they continue to accomplish excellent results based on their present operational trajectory in Zamfara and other North West states.