No fewer than 4 policemen were killed on attacks on police formations by unknown gunmen and bandits in Ebonyi and Zamfara States between Friday and the early hours of Sunday.
Two policemen were killed during an attack on Ugbuodo Divisional Headquarters in Ebonyi Local Government Area (LGA) while another two were killed by bandits during an attack on Magami Police Station in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State.
This is just as 44 persons were killed in attacks recorded in eight States of the federation between Friday and early hours of Sunday. In addition, 14 persons were kidnapped in Kaduna State.
According to statistics collated by the Abuja-based Daily Trust, bandits killed at least 21 in attacks on communities in Zamfara and another 12 in Niger. They also killed 3 in Sokoto around the same time.
21 deaths followed by Niger with 12. Plateau recorded five deaths; Sokoto three; Adamawa two while Ebonyi, Delta and Edo saw 1 death each.
Three suspected kidnappers were also lynched to death after a vigilante group stormed a market in Adamawa State following reports of the presence of kidnappers. The kidnappers were said to have resisted arrest and were lynched to death.
The details showed that the bandits killed three persons at Garin Zogo village and also sacked eight villages in Sabon Birni Local Government of Sokoto State.
They also attacked Nasarawa, Gidan Idi and Rambadawa villages on Saturday, injuring three persons and rustled animals. they also broke into homes of residents of the area and dispossessed them of their belongings, including Kayan jere.
The report listed the villages sacked in Sabon Birni LGA to include Rambadawa, Garin Idi, Tudun Wada, Nasarawa, Tamindawa, Garin Ango, Tsaunar Dogo and Tashalawa.
In Zamfara State, the bandits shot dead two policemen in an attack on their formation in Magami community in Gusau LGA while 19 residents were killed in Damaga and Dutsi village in Maradun and Zurmi LGAs of the State.
In Niger State, bandits in search of foodstuff attacked Mangoro and Kakihun villages in Mariga LGA, shooting indiscriminately, killing 12 persons while two Mobile Policemen and 20 members of the community sustained bullet wounds at Mongoro village. They also kidnapped two villagers during the attacks.
In Plateau State, three herders were killed while seven cattle were shot in separate attacks in villages of Jos South and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State. The first two herders were killed in the Rantya area of Bassa on Saturday while the other one was killed on Sunday in Kuru village of the same Jos South. Five cattle were also shot during the incident.
In addition, one herder was killed in Kuru village of Jos South LGA and another went missing in Maiyanga village of Bassa LGA of the State. At least 52 cattle were equally killed in the attack.
In Adamawa State, three suspected kidnappers were lynched to death in Toungo LGA of the State on Friday evening.
Two boys were killed by stray bullets during the incident.
In Ebonyi State, two policemen were killed during an attack on a Police station, while one of the attackers was also felled down by police bullet.
In Edo, one person was killed by a security guard working on a company in the capital, Benin City while another person was reported dead after two men were shot at a gambling spot in Sapele, Delta State, at the weekend.
In Kaduna State, bandits on Sunday attacked Unguwan Kabulo community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, abducting 14 people. Residents also said that 17 people including women and children were earlier abducted but three escaped and returned to the community.
This story was originally published in Daily Trust