From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Bandits have killed the District head of Gada town in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara state, Alhaji Umar Bawan-Allah and four others.
They have also abducted several people mostly women and children.
They also set many houses ablaze including the District head’s palace and his two vehicles.
Narrating the ordeal to Analyzer, an indigine of the town, Makau Mohammed said, “The bandits came to the town around 11 o’clock pm on Tuesday night and blocked all the roads leading to the town then started shooting sporadically”.
He maintained that, some of the bandits entered into the town, while other bandits stood by the roadsides to ensure that nobody escaped.
He said, the bandits spent several hours in the town, where they searched many houses, took away several items including foodstuffs and money and also abducted many people.
According to him, the District head was killed on the process because of his refusal to comply with the bandits’ directives”.
“He (the District head) was shot dead by the bandits because he resisted the attempt to abduct him”.
“When bandits realized that, the District head was not ready to go with them to their den, they shot him severally until he died”.
“They later set his palace on fire where several items including his two vehicles were burnt down”.
Mohammed also added that, many houses that were closed to the District head’s palace were also affected by the inferno.
Addressing Journalists on the issue the state’s Police Commissioner, CP Ayuba N. Elkana said, the state police command has deployed its Tactical team to the town to fight the bandits.
He said, “At about 0335 hours, armed bandits in large number invaded Gada village in Bungudu local government area where they attacked the house of the District head, Alhaji Umaru and killed him along with four others and kidnapped some community members”.
“Police Tactical operatives in collaboration with military and vigilante responded promptly and engaged the assailants to a serious gun battle”.
“The joint tactical teams were able to disperse the hoodlums, rescued nine kidnapped victims including a one year old baby”.
“Presently, normalcy has been restored in the affected area and its environ with improved confidence building patrol”.
