Many Feared Killed As Rival Bandit Groups Clash In Zamfara

A significant number of bandits were reportedly killed during a fierce clash between two rival groups in the vicinity of Hayin Alhaji to Munhaye forest in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A local, Mohammed Sanda told The PUNCH on Sunday that the two bandit groups engaged in a supremacy fight last Saturday where scores lost their lives.

According to Sanda, a group of bandits from neighbouring Katsina State invaded some communities in Zamfara State intending to kidnap the residents.

But the powerful and notorious bandits’ kingpin Ado Alero who is an indigene of the area intervened and refused to allow the rival bandits 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 stressed that the people of the area were currently trouping to the battleground to see the dead bodies of the neutralised bandits.

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

He said, “Some bandits who came from Katsina State invaded some communities between Tafkin Kazai and Munhaye village around five o’clock pm 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 trouping to this place to see the corpses and the abandoned motorcycles,” Sanda added.

Sanda also explained that the communities were looking into the possibility of giving a mass burial for the dead bodies of the bandits because of the absence of security personnel.

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

When contacted for comment, the spokesperson for the state police command ASP Yazid Abubakar said he was not aware of this development.

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