At least 13 residents have been killed in a series of suspected bandit attacks on communities in Zamfara State following the reported death of a notorious bandit leader.
The attackers were said to have launched reprisals after local vigilantes ambushed and killed the bandit kingpin and some of his associates.
It was gathered on Friday that the attacks occurred in Dandallah, Tudun Gabas and Unguwar Majidadi in the Dansadau Emirate of Maru Local Government Area, with Dandallah recording the highest number of casualties.
Residents said nine people were killed in Dandallah, while additional fatalities were recorded in the other affected communities.
However, accounts varied over the precise number of victims in each location.
A resident, who requested anonymity, said the bandits accused the communities of providing information and support to the vigilantes responsible for the earlier operation.
According to the source, the confrontation between the vigilantes and bandits had made farming increasingly difficult, with villagers allegedly prevented from accessing their farmlands for about two years.
The renewed violence has also forced residents to abandon their homes and seek safety in Dansadau town.
Another resident estimated that between 80 and 90 per cent of people in some of the affected villages had fled, including women and children who arrived in Dansadau in search of shelter.
Residents of the town were said to have opened their homes to the displaced families, while some provided food and temporary accommodation.
Dangurgu village was also reportedly attacked, further widening the area affected by the latest wave of violence and forcing more residents to flee.
Residents alleged that limited access by conventional security personnel had left the rural communities vulnerable to armed groups operating around the area.
One Dansadau resident said bandits had maintained a presence around Dandallah, Gobirawa and Madada, using surrounding routes to move between communities.
The resident added that people in the affected areas had endured prolonged intimidation because of what he described as inadequate security presence.
Residents also said the bodies of 10 victims were recovered from Dandallah, Madadah and Gobirawar Kwacha, amid conflicting accounts of the overall casualty figure.
Meanwhile, the latest attacks have renewed concerns over the security situation in Zamfara, where rural communities continue to face killings, displacement and restrictions on farming activities.
The violence also highlights the continuing cycle of reprisal attacks between armed bandits and local vigilante groups operating in parts of the state.
When contacted, the Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he would make inquiries into the incident.
“I will inquire about it and feed you back,” Abubakar said.
The police command had not released further details on the reported killings as of the time of filing this report.