Suspected bandits have set fire to a Juma’at mosque, a Primary Healthcare Centre, and at least ten residential houses in Biyabiki village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The assault, which took place at about 8pm on Saturday, is believed to be a reprisal attack carried out by armed associates of the notorious bandit leader Adamu Aliero.
According to local sources, the attack may be connected to the recent killings of Aliero’s younger brother, Isuhu Yellow, and his son during a failed ambush on security operatives deployed to the Keta area nearly three weeks ago.
Eyewitnesses reported that the armed men stormed the village, set several buildings ablaze, and fled without attacking individuals directly or making abductions.
“They only set places on fire, including our Juma’at mosque and the local clinic,” one resident, who requested to remain anonymous for security reasons, said. “They also destroyed ten houses in an attack that lasted nearly an hour.”
The attackers were also reported to have struck Tsageru village earlier the same day, burning down additional homes in what appears to be a coordinated operation.
“We don’t know what they hope to achieve by burning down public facilities and homes. Our communities have been under constant threat since the death of Isuhu Yellow. We firmly believe this is part of a wider reprisal campaign,” the resident said.
Attempts to contact the Zamfara State Police Command spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated calls.
The latest violence highlights the ongoing insecurity in Zamfara State where bandit groups continue to wreak havoc on rural communities despite the presence of ongoing military operations in the region.
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