By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Bandits have continued the attack on eight villages in two local government areas of Nigeria’s northwestern Kebbi State after killing 62 members of a vigilante group popularly known as Yan Sa Kai in an ambush at Anemi in Sakaba Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

Chairman of the vigilante, Zuru Emirate, Usman Sani, a retired Warrant Officer, when contacted on phone for an update on Tuesday, confirmed the bandits’ continued attack, lamenting that the death toll of the Sunday ambush has risen to 65.

“We have so far recovered 65 bodies of our members,” the chairman said.

He added that “the bandits have continued their attack on eight villages made up of Rambo, Dongu and Semiciwande in Danko/Wasagu local government.

“Others are Gwazawa, Jonga, Kageta, Dungu, and Maza-Maza in Sakaba local government.”

Mohammed Abdullahi, from Gilwasa village in Sakaba local government, said the bandits rustled cattle, carted away phones and other valuable of many villagers including the cattle of the village head of Maza-Maza.

Abdullahi said: “The bandits also abducted four villagers including a newly wedded couple.

“They also abducted the village head of Dongu in Danko-Wasagu local government.”

Kabiru Musa, a resident of Maza-Maza village said the villagers are in a state of apprehension and have all moved to Dirin-Daji head quarter of Sakaba local government.

He said the Nigerian Air Force is bombing the bandits and “the bandits have started fleeing forward the eastern part of the area because of the heavy bombing and ground troops closing on them.

“But, Dirin Daji is overwhelmed with IDPs from villages attacked by this bandits,” he added.

Spokesperson of the police when contacted, said he will make findings before commenting on the Tuesday attacks.

“Let me find out and get back to you,” he said.

After some hours of waiting for his call, he is yet to return follow up calls and WhatsApp text message sent to his number as at the time of filling this report.

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