Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
At least 23 farmers have been killed in a bandit attack on Sauna/Ruwan Gora community in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, residents have said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the Divisional Police Officer in Talata Mafara had reported the killing of 23 farmers in Sauna District.
Yazid said the command had responded with the deployment of more operatives to the area to track down the attackers.
According to local sources, the assailants struck on Wednesday afternoon, targeting farmers working on their farmlands.
A source said the attackers chased those who attempted to escape and killed them.
“They killed 23 people. They attacked them on their respective farms, pursued those who ran for safety and killed them,” a resident, who requested anonymity, said.
Residents disclosed that the victims’ bodies had been prepared for a mass burial scheduled for Thursday.
“We have prepared the bodies of the 23 victims for a mass burial today,” the source added.
Another resident said the exact number of casualties was still being determined, suggesting the death toll could be higher.
“The bandits returned and attacked the village around 3:00 p.m. yesterday. We are still compiling and tracing those who lost their lives,” he said.
One resident recalled that the armed men had earlier moved through the community without attacking anyone.
“The bandits passed through our village around 2:00 p.m. without harming anybody. People were even counting the number of motorcycles conveying them,” he said.
Residents appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Federal Government to strengthen security in the area, warning that continued attacks on farmers could threaten agricultural activities and food production in the state.
“If farmers continue to be killed and kidnapped, Zamfara State will definitely experience a food crisis,” the resident warned.
