A 102-year-old man and children were
among 16 people killed on Wednesday after gunmen stormed Kanoma village, Maru
Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The old man, said to be the oldest
person in the community, was killed along with his two children. At least 14
people sustained injuries in the early morning attack.
Eyewitnesses said that the gunmen
invaded the community and opened fire, shooting indiscriminately.
A resident in the area identified
the deceased old man as Mallam Muhammed. He was described as a community
leader.
The resident, who refused to
disclose his name, said: “Mallam Muhammadu was the oldest man and a respected
community leader in the area.”
The Director General Press Affairs
to Zamfara State, Mallam Yusuf Idris, confirming the
incident, said that 16 people were killed and 14 sustained of injuries.
He further said: “The Governor has
directed the immediate transfer of all the victims that were admitted at Kanoma
Hospital to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau and has promised to settle the
medical bills. The Governor has assured people of the area and indeed the state
in general, of adequate security measures, which will bring an end to banditry
and other criminal activities in the state.”
According to Idris, Governor
Mattawalle’s administration has vowed to collaborate with all well-meaning
citizens of the state to end the issue of insecurity bedeviling the
state. He calls on everyone to provide government with useful
intelligence reports, which will help the security agencies in
apprehending criminals.
The Zamfara State Government, yesterday, announced
the immediate suspension of a first class traditional ruler, the Emir of Maru,
Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, over alleged involvement with bandits in the state.
The suspension is contained in a statement signed by
Idris, made available to journalists in Gusau on Thursday.
The statement also announced the suspension of
Alhaji Ahmed Lawal, the District Head of Kanoma.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kanoma
was attacked during the Sallah celebration leaving no fewer than 16 persons
dead and 14 others wounded.
The statement said: “His Excellency, the Zamfara
State Governor, Hon. (Dr) Bello Mohammed, has approved the suspension of the
Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Cika Ibrahim (Banagan Maru). The governor also
approved the suspension of the District Head of Kanoma, Alhaji Ahmed Lawal
(Bunun Kanoma).
The statement said that Ibrahim and Lawal would,
“remain suspended pending the conclusion of an investigative panel soon to be set
up by the state government.”
The statement continues: “The suspensions followed
series of complaints from the communities regarding the traditional rulers’
alleged dealings with bandits.”
The statement directed the suspended Emir to hand
over his official vehicle and all other government property in his possession
to the most senior district head.
“The district head is also directed to handover same
to the most senior village head in the area,” it further stated.
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