JUST-IN: Scores Killed As Rival Bandit Groups Clash In Zamfara

Scores of bandits have been killed as a result of a heavy gun fight between two rival groups around Hayin Alhaji to Munhaye forest of Tsafe local government area in Zamfara State.

A local, Mohammed Sanda, said that the two bandit groups engaged in a supremacy battle on Saturday, leading to many casualties from both camps.

According to Sanda, a group of bandits from the neighbouring Katsina State had invaded some communities in Zamfara State with the intention of kidnapping the residents.

But, a powerful and notorious bandit kingpin, Ado Alero, who is an indigene of the area, intervened and refused to allow the rival bandit group to kidnap the villagers.

Sanda maintained that the two rival groups engaged in a gun battle, which resulted in the death of several bandits from both sides.

He added that there were over 20 motorcycles abandoned by the bandits at the place where the fighting took place.

He said, “Some bandits who came from Katsina State invaded some communities between Tafkin Kazai and Munhaye village around five o’clock last Saturday evening trying to abduct the residents of the area.

“While they were in the area, another group of bandits led by Ado Alero came to the place in a bid to protect the residents.

“The two bandit groups exchanged hot words and finally began to shoot at each other, while the residents ran helter skelter for their dear lives.

“As we were running, the bandits leader Ado Alero told us not to panic and asked us to remain where we were.

“The two groups fought for several hours where many of them were killed and when we returned to the area early morning of today Sunday, we saw many corpses and several motorcycles.

“As I am speaking to you at the moment, many people are trooping to this place to see the corpses and the abandoned motorcycles,” Sanda narrated.

He further explained that the communities were looking into the possibility of giving a mass burial to the dead bodies of the bandits following the presence of the security personnel.

“We may dig a big grave and bury the dead bodies before they decompose,” he stated.

When contacted for comment, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said he was not aware of the development.

The PPRO said, “I am not aware of this, but it is a very important development. God is answering our prayers in the fight against banditry.”