Terrorists again on Sunday raided the terror-harassed Ganar-Kiyawa community in Adabka district of Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing over 20 peoplw, including the traditional ruler.
Ganar Kiyawa community has suffered repeated deadly attacks and forced ransom payments in the recent past. Twice, the community paid a total of N2 million for harvest levy slammed on them by terrorists and another N2 million ransom for two kidnapped residents recently.
Again, on Sunday, the invading terrorists, riding on motorbikes, raided Ganar-Kiyawa after rustling herds of cattle in another community.
According to a resident identified as Saminu Usman, “when they laid the siege, residents scampered to safety after they sensed trouble. But the armed criminals began to chase the fleeing residents on motorbikes shooting at them. They killed at least 19 people there, including the village head.
“Shortly afterwards, the armed men rode and disappeared into bush. After the armed men had left, the surviving residents picked the bodies of the slain residents from different spots inside the surrounding bushes for burials.
“The armed bandits suddenly came back and headed for the cemetery, thinking that the funeral rites had begun, but they saw no one at the cemetery and thereafter zoomed off to forest again.
“The bodies of those killed were later brought to Adabka, the district headquarters located 3 kilo meters west of the raided community. The funeral rites took place at the district head’s palace.”
A source at the palace confirmed that the fleeing residents especially women and children are trooping to Adabka community to take refuge.
The Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.
First published in Daily Trust
