Bandits Kill Ex-Zamfara Councillor Barely 24 Hours After Abducting Fellow Ex-councillor's Wife, 7-month-old Baby

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Some gunmen who are suspected to be bandits have killed a former councillor of Sabon Gida Ward in Zamfara state, Farouq Hassan.

Hassan was killed in his house by the gunmen on Wednesday night.

The incident happened less than 24 hours after gunmen invaded the house of another former councillor, Babangida Damba, abducting his wife and seven-month-old son.

According to Damba, the gunmen invaded his residence in the Damba area of Gusau town around 12.20 am on Tuesday, wielding AK-47 rifles.

He added that he called the police immediately the attack started but they didn't respond until around 3am when the gunmen had left with his wife and son.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.