In a dramatic defense of their community, residents of Matusgi village in Zamfara State’s Talata Mafara Local Government Area successfully resisted an invasion by bandits, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 attackers.
According to a local resident, the bandits, who arrived on motorbikes around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, aimed to abduct villagers. However, this time, the community was prepared and armed with homemade firearms and traditional weapons, leading to a significant confrontation.
Although the bandits initiated the attack by firing indiscriminately to instill fear, the villagers, forewarned of the assault, quickly engaged them. After an hour of intense fighting, the bandits were forced to retreat, leaving 10 of their members dead.
The villagers, determined to protect their home, regrouped and set a strategic ambush. When the bandits attempted to return, the residents launched a second attack, ultimately killing a total of 37 bandits.
The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the incident, noting that three villagers also lost their lives during the confrontation. He added that neighboring villages observed the bandits transporting the bodies of their fallen comrades on motorbikes.
Muhammad highlighted that this was the 13th time bandits had attacked the village. He also recalled an incident three weeks ago when bandits kidnapped 23 villagers, mostly women, demanding a ransom of ₦150,000 per person. Despite the payment, only seven women were released, with the others remaining in captivity.
In a related development, the Kaduna State government reported that troops on patrol in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area killed eight bandits during a combat operation in the Kampanin Doka region. The troops recovered various items, including AK-47 rifles, magazines, motorcycles, and communication devices, after neutralizing the bandits.
News Editor