A policeman has been identified among 13 persons killed by bandits in Zamfara.

It was gathered that a mother and her infant baby were also killed by the bandits who attacked Randa in Dansadau district of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara state.

Most of the victims were burnt to death in their houses while hiding from being abducted by the armed bandits on Sunday, August 15.

Local sources told Premium Times that over 30 locals were also abducted by the bandits in the raid in Maru LGA.

A traditional ruler, Mustapha Umar, the ‘Wazirin Dansadau’ who confirmed the death of 13 persons said five others who sustained injuries from the attack are receiving treatment at a hospital in Dansadau town.

Umar said those killed include a newborn baby who was burnt to death alongside the mother inside a room.

“The gunmen set ablaze houses, burning to death people who were hiding from abduction, the traditional ruler said, adding that many other captives escaped at midnight while being conveyed into the forest,” he said.

The traditional ruler said the bandits exploited the recent changes of security formation in the area and perpetrated the atrocities unchallenged.

“It will be good for the security agents to send a replacement before withdrawing the existing personnel on ground. The absence of the security men gave the attackers a free hand,” Mr Umar said.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Muhammad Shehu, said he would issue a statement whenever information on it was available to him.

In another incident, a policeman identified as Abubakar Bala Ringim, was killed by suspected armed bandits who attacked a commercial bus in Dansadau.

The incident occurred last week while the vehicle was travelling from Dansadau to Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.

According to reports on the incident, one of the vehicles being escorted broke down on the road and while it was being fixed, the bandits appeared from the bush and opened fire, killing the officer who was assigned to protect passengers.

“One of the vehicles which they were escorting broke down. So as they were waiting to give security cover to the driver to fix the vehicle, the bandits opened fire on them, killing one officer.” said a source quoted by Sahara Reporters.

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