 |
| IGP, Mohammed Abubakar |
Gunmen suspected to belong to a violent robbery gang raided
a remote village in Zamfara, killing 20 people, an official said yesterday.
The assault happened Tuesday morning before dawn in Kaboro, a village near other towns in Zamfara state that were recently attacked by the gang, state spokesman Nuhu Anka said. The gunmen shot dead most of those they found in the village, then later "slaughtered" the local village chief in a brutal machete attack, Anka said.
Police have begun an investigation into the attack, he said. The assault appeared to be the work of a violent gang blamed for several mass casualty attacks in the region in recent months.
In June, gunmen killed at least 27 people in Zamfara state in attacks on villages preparing for a local market day. Earlier in October, gunmen armed with assault rifles attacked a rural village in neighboring Kaduna state, killing at least 24 people, including worshippers leaving a mosque after prayers before dawn.
"It looks like the same people because the pattern is the same," Anka said.
Officials said the Kaduna attack likely came after a local vigilante group in the community killed some of the robbers.
While police routinely have many officers stationed throughout major cities in Nigeria, police presence in villages can sometimes be a single officer working out of someone's home.
Meanwhile, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, has strongly condemned the Tuesday's gruesome murder of about twenty villagers in Kaboro, Zamfara State by some rampaging gunmen.
The Party specifically frowned at the killing as well as other acts of wickedness against fellow citizens.
The opposition party, therefore, called on the Police to go all the way in investigating the remote and immediate causes of "this desecration of human life", in order to fish out the criminals so that a repetition would be averted
The Party, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Emma Eneukwu, said "The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with shock the gruesome murder of about twenty villagers in Kaboro, Zamfara State yesterday.
"It is surely very jolting to fathom the trauma that even the survivors of this heinous act went through as their night rest was abruptly interrupted by rampaging gunmen, resulting in deaths, sorrows and untold desolation.
"What will make the most hardened mind shudder is the reported story that the raiding criminals came into the village calling on residents of the area to remain indoors but ensure that their money and other valuables were kept within reach.
"Our great party is concerned that this is a sad statement on the value of human life in Nigeria.
"We condemn this, and other acts of wickedness against fellow citizens.
"Just a couple of weeks ago, Dogon Dawa village in Birnin Gwari local government of Kaduna State was attacked in a similar way resulting in the death of over 24 villagers.
What is more, Zamfara State was in June this year attacked by a gang of robbers who invaded Dan-Gulbi and Guru villages, moving from door to door as they shoot and slit the necks of defenceless villagers, leaving scores of Nigerian citizens dead.
"With so much money voted annually for security, our great party wonders what other stimulus is needed by the security sector in order to structure a water-tight and sustainable policing network that will include the hinterland, remote settlements and other rural clusters.
"The impunity shown by village marauders in recent times in carrying out their evil missions has clearly shown that the Federal Government has failed in delivering the first service to the people; that of security of life and property.
"The ANPP therefore calls on The Police to go all the way in investigating the remote and immediate causes of this desecration of human life, in order to fish out the criminals so that a repetition would be averted.
"We also call on the Federal Government to reappraise its rural development strategies with particular emphasis on safeguarding and mainstreaming local seasonal commercial clusters.
"This is because as evidence has emerged, Kaboro village is known to realize a lot of money from the sales of livestock and farm produce during Islamic celebrations.
"As a party we believe that it is the first duty of government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens from evil elements even as they go about their legitimate occupation".
The assault happened Tuesday morning before dawn in Kaboro, a village near other towns in Zamfara state that were recently attacked by the gang, state spokesman Nuhu Anka said. The gunmen shot dead most of those they found in the village, then later "slaughtered" the local village chief in a brutal machete attack, Anka said.
Police have begun an investigation into the attack, he said. The assault appeared to be the work of a violent gang blamed for several mass casualty attacks in the region in recent months.
In June, gunmen killed at least 27 people in Zamfara state in attacks on villages preparing for a local market day. Earlier in October, gunmen armed with assault rifles attacked a rural village in neighboring Kaduna state, killing at least 24 people, including worshippers leaving a mosque after prayers before dawn.
"It looks like the same people because the pattern is the same," Anka said.
Officials said the Kaduna attack likely came after a local vigilante group in the community killed some of the robbers.
While police routinely have many officers stationed throughout major cities in Nigeria, police presence in villages can sometimes be a single officer working out of someone's home.
Meanwhile, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, has strongly condemned the Tuesday's gruesome murder of about twenty villagers in Kaboro, Zamfara State by some rampaging gunmen.
The Party specifically frowned at the killing as well as other acts of wickedness against fellow citizens.
The opposition party, therefore, called on the Police to go all the way in investigating the remote and immediate causes of "this desecration of human life", in order to fish out the criminals so that a repetition would be averted
The Party, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Emma Eneukwu, said "The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with shock the gruesome murder of about twenty villagers in Kaboro, Zamfara State yesterday.
"It is surely very jolting to fathom the trauma that even the survivors of this heinous act went through as their night rest was abruptly interrupted by rampaging gunmen, resulting in deaths, sorrows and untold desolation.
"What will make the most hardened mind shudder is the reported story that the raiding criminals came into the village calling on residents of the area to remain indoors but ensure that their money and other valuables were kept within reach.
"Our great party is concerned that this is a sad statement on the value of human life in Nigeria.
"We condemn this, and other acts of wickedness against fellow citizens.
"Just a couple of weeks ago, Dogon Dawa village in Birnin Gwari local government of Kaduna State was attacked in a similar way resulting in the death of over 24 villagers.
What is more, Zamfara State was in June this year attacked by a gang of robbers who invaded Dan-Gulbi and Guru villages, moving from door to door as they shoot and slit the necks of defenceless villagers, leaving scores of Nigerian citizens dead.
"With so much money voted annually for security, our great party wonders what other stimulus is needed by the security sector in order to structure a water-tight and sustainable policing network that will include the hinterland, remote settlements and other rural clusters.
"The impunity shown by village marauders in recent times in carrying out their evil missions has clearly shown that the Federal Government has failed in delivering the first service to the people; that of security of life and property.
"The ANPP therefore calls on The Police to go all the way in investigating the remote and immediate causes of this desecration of human life, in order to fish out the criminals so that a repetition would be averted.
"We also call on the Federal Government to reappraise its rural development strategies with particular emphasis on safeguarding and mainstreaming local seasonal commercial clusters.
"This is because as evidence has emerged, Kaboro village is known to realize a lot of money from the sales of livestock and farm produce during Islamic celebrations.
"As a party we believe that it is the first duty of government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens from evil elements even as they go about their legitimate occupation".
The Compass
No comments:
Post a Comment