Bandits have killed a son of Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs in Zamfara, DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe (rtd).
The commissioner’s son was killed along three others when bandits invaded Tsafe town, headquarters of Tsafe local government area of the state, on Sunday night.
The gunmen fleeing from military operations in some parts of the states are finding parts of Tsafe local government area as safe havens.
Residents said the bandits clad in military uniforms, stormed Shiyar Namada area close to the commissioner’s residence and killed villagers.
“Some residents who had earlier spotted them mistook them as security operatives on routine patrol. Some of them didn’t bother to raise alarm.
“The commissioner’s son, alongside some other people, were seated at the frontage of DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe’s residence during iftar when suddenly the armed men showed up and started firing at every one on sight.
“During the attack most people observing Tarawih prayer in several mosques around the area and residents fled to safety. The armed men later withdrew into the forest. As I’m talking to you I’m at the Waziri’s residence where preparations for their funeral are underway,” a resident simply identified as Umar said.
Some residents the attack might be reprisal as a suspected bandit, who was seen on the outskirts of the town last Friday, was beheaded by the local vigilante otherwise known as Yan Sakai.
The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.
Efforts to get the commissioner’s response also failed.
Tsafe town and other communities in the local government area have witnessed deadly assaults and kidnapping for ransom.
Two months ago, a resident and a customs officer were killed in separate attacks on the town.
Last February, the armed men shot dead a muezzin while he was calling for subhi prayer in Magazu, a community just 5km south of Tsafe town.
