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MASSACRE OF 74 IN ZAMFARA: Buhari sends Defence Minister for on-the-spot assessment

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MASSACRE OF 74 IN ZAMFARA: Buhari sends Defence Minister for on-the-spot assessment

Following the alleged killing of 74 persons in Zamfara State, President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali (Rtd) to the state to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and report back to him.

Attacks on Wednesday and Thursday in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State are said to have left no less than 74 persons dead.

The first attack on Wednesday allegedly left 36 persons dead.

However, the Police Command in Zamfara had claimed that 18 persons died in the attack, which according to him resulted in what appears as a reprisal attack against the villagers for intercepting a suspected cattle rustler.

The state Police PRO, DSP Muhammad Shehu, explained that on February 13, that hunters from Birani village of Zurmi local government area intercepted and accosted a herder in the bush with some suspected stolen cattle and sheep.

According to Shehu, the herder had abandoned the animals and escaped into the bush, but unknown to the hunters, the cattle rustler went to Isah Local Government Area of Sokoto State and mobilised bandits to attack the hunters.

Subsequently on Wednesday, the bandits ambushed the hunters in the bush and there was a clash that led to fatalities on both sides. He added after the Police/Military and other sister combed the bush and environs that 18 dead bodies were discovered.

The attackers were said to have invaded the local government again on Thursday killing about 38 persons.

Although Police are yet to confirm the latest attack, but a journalist, who resides in the area told newsmen that no less than 74 persons were killed as the result of the attacks.

Reacting to the incident in a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Friday, Buhari commiserated with families of victims of the heinous attacks.

“President Buhari directs the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali (Rtd) to proceed immediately to the state to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and report back.

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“In addition, he directs security agencies to immediately mobilise and deploy their members to the vulnerable areas of the state, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to face the full wrath of the law.

“The President assures the Zamfara State government, victims of the mayhem and residents in the state, that the Federal Government will continue do all it takes to support security agencies to secure lives and property, not only in the affected state but all parts of the country.

“President Buhari restates his administration’s determination to put an end to the spate of senseless spilling of innocent blood in parts of the country, and calls for restraint to allow the nation’s security apparatus to stem the undesirable trend,” the statement read in part.

 

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