Bandits have killed the District Head of Gada town in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Alhaji Umar Bawan-Allah and four others.
The bandits also abducted many people, a majority of who are women and children.
They also set many houses ablaze including the District Head’s palace and his two vehicles.
Narrating the ordeal to The PUNCH, an indigene of the town, Makau Mohammed said, “The bandits came to the town around 11 pm on Tuesday night and blocked all the roads leading to the town then started shooting sporadically.”
He maintained that some of the bandits entered into the town, while other bandits stood by the roadsides to ensure that nobody escaped.
He said, the bandits spent several hours in the town, where they searched many houses, took away several items including foodstuffs and money and also abducted many people.
According to him, the District Head was killed in the process because of his refusal to comply with the bandits’ directives.
“They later set his palace on fire where several items including his two vehicles were burnt down.
Mohammed added that many houses that were close to the District Head’s palace were also affected by the inferno.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state Police Command said it had already deployed its tactical team to the affected town, who were currently on the trail of the fleeing bandits.
The police tactical team, according to the command, is working in collaboration with the military.
According to the command, nine kidnapped victims were rescued by the tactical team while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the assailants.
