By Mohammed Munirat Nasir
Zamfara, Nigeria- About 10 members of the vigilante groups are reportedly killed in an ambush by the bandits in Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara state on Monday.
According to a source, the vigilantes who were from Kurya and Kware villages were returning from a meeting in Shinkafi town when they were ambushed by the bandits .
The source added the attack by the bandits led to the death of not fever than 10 of the bandits while others sustained serious injuries.
However, the Zamfara state Police Command said only one vigilante was killed in the ambush by the bandits.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu who confirmed the attack said the command was currently on top of the situation.
Mohammed said the command on 19th November, 2018, received a distress call at about 1805 hours, that vigilante men of Kurya and kware villages in Shinkafi LGA were ambushed by suspected bandits along Shinkafi road, on their way back to their respective villages.
“On receipt of the report, combined team of PMF, CTU and ‘F’SARS led by the DPO Shinkafi quickly moved to the scene for on the spot Assessment. One dead body was recovered while two other victims who sustained gun shot injuries were rushed to General Hospital Shinkafi for treatment”, he said.
The police spokesman added that several motorcycles were littered at the scene with some of them set ablaze.
Mohammed also said bush combing of the surrounding bush search and rescue operations are currently ongoing and therefore called on members of the public to always remain conscious of their personal safety and protection.
“Any suspicious movement or character, they should immediately report to any nearby police station for prompt action”, he said.
The Zamfara state government had few weeks ago approved the recruitment of 8,500 able bodied youths to serve as Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) to assist in intelligence gathering to compliment the security agencies in the fight against banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.