Suspected bandits attacked five villages Gidan Goga district in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State killing not less than 30 people.

In May this year, 30 people were killed by suspected bandits and cattle rustlers in an attack on Malikawa village in the same district.

Residents said that the bandits stormed the villages of Sakkida, Farin Zare, Orawa, Gyadde and Sabon Gari villages on motorbikes, firing at residents, killing people and carting away cows.

“We have buried 26 so far and we are still scouting for other bodies in the bush. Some of the residents were trapped on their farms and got killed. For the first time, women were among those shot dead,” a resident, Makau Ali, said.

He said the whereabouts of seven persons is not yet known adding that they might have been drowned while trying to cross a river to escape the carnage.

“Seven persons were killed in Sakkida, four in Farin Zare, 8 in Orawa, seven in Gyadde and four were shot dead in Sabon Gari while seven were declared missing,” he said.

However, the state police command said three people were killed in Sakkida and Gyadde villages, while further attacks had been repelled.

The command’s spokesman, Muhammad Shehu, said joint police and military teams responded swiftly to the distress call and on arrival, the bandits fled after killing three persons.

Shehu said the command also foiled an attack on Dangebe Village in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

He said a gang of armed bandits/cattle rustlers went to the community to attack and rustle cows.

“The tactical teams of the command engaged the bandits in a gun battle which forced them to beat a retreat back to the forest with possible gun wounds and 171 cows were recovered during the operation,” he said.