Bandits fleeing military fire zone in Zamfara abduct 20 in Sokoto

As bombs continue to rain on Zamfara forests by the Nigerian Air force that led to scores dead, bandits who are on the run stormed Dange Shuni Local Government Council Area of Sokoto State and abducted 20 locals.

The clampdown on bandits in few days has been ferocious particularly that communication services have been cut off in Zamfara State with criminal elements and their collaborators finding it difficult to communicate with themselves.

Earlier, governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has banned sales of petrol in Jerry cans, and shut down markets as measures to enforce difficulty on bandits.

Residents of Dange Shuni Local Government area, however, told BBC Hausa that communities in the area were witnessing influx of bandits recently.

Commissioner for Security Affairs Garba Moyi who confirmed the influx of bandits in Sokoto axis expressed confidence that the State government would rose to the occasion of curtailing their activities.

Sokoto is a next door neighbouring State to the troubled Zamfara and there was belief that bandits were using the State as escape routes given the bombardment of their hideouts.

The Commissioner explained that they attacked residents to intimidate the locals and to steal good items along while fleeing.

An unnamed local, said “Even yesterday (Tuesday) the bandits running away from bombs in Zamfara attacked a village called Fajanbi and abducted nine people.