Bandits Kill 10 Community Guards, Vigilantes In Zamfara
Bandits have reportedly killed 10 persons on Saturday during an ambush in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Reports said the victims were six operatives of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPGs), popularly known as Askarawa, and four local vigilantes.
According to reliable sources, the operatives were returning from a successful joint operation led by the Nigerian Army, which resulted in the killing of several bandits.
However, as they were making their way back from the operation, tragedy struck when some recalcitrant bandits ambushed the team, leading to the loss of ten lives.
Confirming the killing of security operatives in the ambush, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said in a statement written in Hausa language on his verified Facebook page that the victims were part of a team that had conducted an operation alongside military personnel in Anka before they were attacked around Bagega axis.
The Governor further disclosed that six members of the CPGs and four local vigilantes also known as “Yan Sakai” lost their lives in the ambush.
Additionally, he said three persons are still missing, including two members of the community Protection Guards and one local vigilante.
Governor Lawal wrote thus; “I got information that gunmen ambushed some Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG) in Anka Local Government.
“The incident occurred yesterday when security forces and the State Community Protection Guards (CPG) led by the Nigerian Army attacked the hideouts of the bandits and successful neutralized several bandits and recovered their weapons.
“The information made available to me indicated that they were on their way back when the bandits ambushed them at Bagega and open fire on them killing six Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) and four Yansakai which their burial was conducted Sunday’s morning.
“There are three people that are missing among them, which two are CPG members while one Yansakai. When I learned of the incident, I gave a directive that immediate medical assistance should be offered to the injured persons while the families of those who loss their lives be provided immediate relief materials.
“I prayed that accept the souls of those who paid the Supreme sacrifice in order to protect their communities. May God comfort their families. I prayed God to end the security challenge in Zamfara State, North and Nigeria as a whole.”
In spite of spirited efforts by security operatives, Zamfara remains one of the hot-beds of banditry and terrorism in the North-West and North-Central regions of the country.
Unfortunately, several lives are being lost daily, while many persons and communities continued to be displaced by havoc-wreaking bandits.
