No fewer than 150 armed bandits riding on motor-cycles have invaded three villages in the northern state of Zamfara, killing 16 persons, including a policeman. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) which reported the attacks said they were carried out Saturday night.

NAN quoted police spokesman in the state, DSP Lawal Abdullahi, as saying that the hoodlums invaded the villages in Maru local council area, located about 33 kilometres from Gusau, the capital of the state. The report gave the names of the villages attacked as Tungar Rakumi, Mallamawa and Kangarawa.

It quoted the police spokesman as saying that 12 persons were killed in Tungar Rakumi alone, while four were killed in Mallamawa and Kangarawa.

According to him, “The bandits, who are suspected to have carried out the attack to retaliate the killing of three suspected cattle rustlers by the community in Birnin Magaji local government area last week, were heavily armed with AK 47 rifles.”

He further explained that the police patrol team in the area fought back and over-powered the hoodlums who escaped with other members of the gang who were injured during the encounter.

The PPRO lamented that the police always faced difficulties in trailing hoodlums in the area due to inaccessible terrain and non-availability of telephone network signals.

He however assured that in spite of the shortcomings, the police would continue to make the state highly difficult for criminals to operate in.

Abdullahi urged the people of the state to always notify the nearest security outfit of any suspicious movement in their area.