Bandits have killed one person and abducted nine young men in Hayin Banki area of Anka local government area of Zamfara state Monday night.
Residents told the 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that the daring attack has left them in surprise as the local government headquarter is considered to be safest with several unofficial internally displaced camps.
A local government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told this reporter that the attack occurred a few minutes after 11pm.
“I’m personally surprised to be honest with you. It’s my area and I heard the gunshots. It’s surprising because despite that the local government area is among the worst hit in terms of banditry, we’ve enjoyed relative peace in the main town,” he saID.
Another resident, Ibrahim Bashir, said the person killed was a night watchman at a sachet water factory where five young men were also taken.
“The manager of a poultry farm and his three staff were also abducted. The bandits were very daring because the number of motorcycles they came with were many. They kept shooting sporadically throughout their operation that lasted for over an hour.”
He said the families of those abducted are waiting for the bandits to call for ransom negotiations, adding that “that’s our reality now.”
Efforts to get official confirmation from the police public relations officer in the state, SP Mohammed Shehu proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
