Fear has gripped residents of communities in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State and others in neighbouring Katsina State over the frequent sights of terrorists on motorbikes riding into and occupying forest areas.
The locals, who fear the terrorists might have been displaced by military operations elsewhere, are apprehensive because their influx into Tsafe has witnessed an upsurge in deadly attacks especially on the 100km Gusau-Funtua Highway.
Several travellers plying the road have been killed and dozens of others abducted in the past few months.
A resident said that on Monday alone, said armed men riding on about 20 motorcycles were sighted in Kunchin Kalgo.
Another resident, Sani Abubakar, said the reports making the rounds indicated that the notorious terror kingpin known as Turji might have relocated to the area.
“They are making the Munhaye Forest straddling Zamfara and Katsina States their new abode.”
“The authorities should as a matter of urgency track their movements with a view to eliminating them. They are making several communities a hell.
“Some weeks back, they gathered in a primary school in the Kizara community; they held a meeting there and then left. Two days later, they staged attacks on some communities and killed more than 20 persons,” Abubakar said.
As usual, the Spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.