Zamfara Command clarifies Maru and Talata Mafara killings

Following Thursday online report on alleged killings of over 100 people by suspected armed bandits in some villages under Maru and Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the Commissioner of Police, Usman Nagogo, through the Command’s public relations officer,  Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, debunks the reports, saying the casualty figures were blown out of proportion.The statement, as made available to OpenLife, is reproduced below

The attention of Zamfara State Police Command has been drawn to the above captioned headline   published by one of the online Media of Thursday 4th June, 2020. The report which indicates that, gunmen attacked over ten villages in Talata Mafara Local Government Area and killed over sixty people, and on the other hand attacked four  villages and killed another sixty  people in Maru LGA was not only inaccurate but misleading and unfounded.

For purpose of clarity, the command wishes to set the record straight as follows:-

On 2nd and 3rd June, 2020, six  villages- Tungar Malan, Manyan Karaje, Tungar Arne, Dangodon Maiyakane, Dangodon Mai Masallaci and Boleke in Maru Local Government Area were attacked by suspected armed bandits with intend to rustle cows. When confronted by members of the milia group known as “YAN SAKAI”, they started shooting sporadically, thereby resulting to the death of 15  people, while seven people sustained gun shot wound and rushed to the hospital for treatment.

In a related incident, On June 3, bandits attacked and killed six  people from four villages – Gidan Dan Kani, Tungar lauti, Inwala and Dangodo villages in Talata Mafara Local Government Area. The victims were attacked and killed while coming back from funeral prayer of the dead six persons. Five  people sustained gun shot wound and are currently receiving treatment.

In view of the above, the Zamfara State Police Command hereby refutes such unfounded report and urges the press to patiently wait to have the accurate report of events before publication so as not to put members of the public in confusion and fear.

At the moment, normalcy has been restored in the affected communities, and the command will keep members of the public abreast as soon as new development emerges.