By MAIHARAJI ALTINE, Gusau

Bandits have killed 22 people in Tungar Kwana village of Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State Tuesday night.

An indigene of the village, Malam Ahmed Mohammed, told The Punch that the bandits numbering over 100 invaded the village around 11 pm where they began to shoot people indiscriminately.

He stated, “Twenty-two people including children and women were killed instantly, while other people escaped to the forest.

Mohammed also said that many people were wounded as a result of gunshots and were currently in the hospital for treatment.

The bandits, according to him had also stolen a large number of animals.

“They took away many cows, sheep, and goats as well as foodstuffs,” Said Mohammed.

He Maintained that the village has been deserted for fear of the return of the bandits who he said had been attacking the people of the village in the past.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, said, “The police have confirmed the killing of 20 people in that village but not 22.”

Shehu explained that the bandits were targeting the villagers because they ( villagers) gave useful information to the security agents which led to the killing of several bandits last week.

“The villagers told the security agents useful information about some bandits who rustled cows last week and the information had assisted greatly in locating and killing many of them.

“Since that time, the bandits were targeting the villagers in order to avenge the killing of their people.”

He said that the police command had drafted its personnel in order to arrest those bandits and bring them to justice. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy The PUNCH)